PM calls for revolutions in farm, allied sectors

Thanking farmers for taking his advice seriously, Modi said sowing of pulses and oilseeds has touched a record this Kharif (summer) season. Addressing the 87th foundation day of premium <g data-gr-id="35">agri</g>- research body ICAR here, Modi asked <g data-gr-id="36">agri</g>-scientists and progressive farmers to ensure the country does not need to import any farm commodities in the future.

He emphasised on increasing crop yields per hectare and expressed concern over <g data-gr-id="32"><g data-gr-id="31">agri</g>-wastage,</g> while pitching for food processing and value-addition to boost farmers income.

"We have benefited from the first Green Revolution. But the country cannot wait for the second Green Revolution. We are already late. We need to prepare plans to achieve second green revolution," he said.

"I can see clearly that the second Green Revolution will take place from eastern states like Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, and eastern Uttar Pradesh," he added.

Emphasising on taking research from <g data-gr-id="34">lab</g> to land, Modi exhorted agricultural scientists to give a report to him in six months identifying priorities needed to be given for fast pacing the farm growth.

"As agricultural land is shrinking, there is a need to increase crop yields per hectare through newer research in the field of agriculture," Modi said and urged the <g data-gr-id="40">agri</g> scientists of the country to help this happen. Modi praised Indian scientists for their work despite budgetary <g data-gr-id="38">constraints,</g> and emphasised the need for scientific innovations in the agriculture sector to move from "lab to land," so that farmers can benefit from them.He said that his government's priority was to usher in four-prong revolutions in tune with the four colours – saffron, green, white and blue in the national flag.

"We have <g data-gr-id="33">tricolour</g> flag. There is blue chakra. I believe that there is a need for 'Chatur Kranti' (fourth revolution) in the country," Modi said while naming these four revolutions as – green, saffron, white and blue.