Need second Green Revolution without delay, says PM Modi

He said Indian agriculture has been lagging in several areas including inputs, irrigation, value addition and market linkages and his government was committed to modernizing the sector and making it more productive.

“We have seen the first Green <g data-gr-id="57">Revoltuion</g>, but it happened several years ago. Now it is the demand of time that there should be second Green Revolution without any delay. And where is it possible? It is possible in eastern UP, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Assam, <g data-gr-id="58">Odhisa</g>,” Modi said, while laying the foundation stone of Indian Agricultural Research Institute at Barhi.

“That is why the government is <g data-gr-id="56">focuing</g> on the development of this area. For that we have started this research institute,” the Prime Minister said.

He said urea plants in this area have been closed and a decision has been taken to reopen them as farmers will need fertilizers.

Emphasising the need for use of scientific methods for farming to increase productivity, Modi said 

“Unless we prepare a balanced and a comprehensive integrated plan, we will not be able to change the lives of farmers.” 

Pitching for ‘per drop, more crop’, Modi stressed the need for research in the field of agriculture to determine the health of soil and its needs in terms of seeds, water quantity, amount of fertilization etc.

He said the government was taking steps to train youth in soil testing so that such labs could be set up on the pattern of pathological labs for humans. “This will also lead to job creation,” he added.

Turning to pulses, he said India has to import these because of shortfall in production and noted that a special package has been given to farmers engaged in cultivation of pulses.

“The production of pulses in the country is very low and I urge farmers that if they have five acres of farming land, use four acres for other crops but cultivate pulses on at least one acre,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister said that a process had began to help farmers maintain land by issuing “soil health cards”, quality seeds, providing electricity, irrigation and giving them a proper market with value addition.

“If there is no change in village economy, we cannot change lives of farmers. So the Centre’s endeavour is to introduce additional farming system to increase agricultural produce per hectare, which is now a cause for concern,” he said.

“But, there are ways (to address it) through government policies and training resource availability”, he said.

Expressing concern over a growing population and the shrinking land resources because of the fragmentation of land, he said, “Fifty years ago, a family used to have 50 bighas (about 20 acres) of land and now it has reduced to only two-three bighas because of the division of land (following family structure)”.

He expressed concern that if agricultural production was not increased in the country, there would be a shortage of grains and it would affect the economy of farmers.

“Students (coming) from far off areas (to IARI) will go to their respective regions and help farmers (through their research),” Modi said.

In addition to the research institute being set up, Modi said, reviving the fertilizer factory in Jharkhand’s Sindri and setting up of new ones in Bihar and Bengal would help farmers get much-needed fertilizers and urea, which in turn would create employment opportunities for the youths. 

Noting that population was rising and land holdings are getting reduced due to fragmentation in families, the Prime Minister emphasised the need for enhancing productivity to ensure the nation’s food security as well as ensure good income for farmers.

He said said proper research was required in all agro-climatic zones of the country. “This would ensure best results, as well as greater acceptability among farmers,” he said.

Modi mentioned the government?s programme to provide soil health cards to all farmers. He laid stress on the importance of raising productivity in the dairy sector and suggested that one district in each state could be developed as a honey producing district.

Recalling his slogan of ‘per drop, more crop’, he said micro irrigation helps raise productivity and incomes for farmers. How to increase the per hectare production is an area of concern although solution is present to deal with the issue, the Prime Minister said.

Through proper government policies, training and resources, India can make agriculture modern and scientific.