Jaitley lauds Pawar's contribution in Baramati transformation

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today lauded NCP chief Sharad Pawar's contribution in making his home turf Baramati as one of the most developed regions in the country.

"A rural district (Pune, in which Baramati is located) which suffers lack of water; in order to transform itself into one of the most progressive districts in the country is no mean achievement," Jaitley said.

"Obviously Pawar saheb has literally for the last 40 to 50 years, developed the area. The economy (of this area) has transformed," Jaitley said, after inaugurating the new building of the College of Agriculture and Allied Science at Baramati.

"The Krishi Vigyan Kendra that I visited is as progressive as any in the world," Jaitley said. "We will give whatever support Pawar has suggested in agriculture," the Finance Minister said.

The milk products that are being produced (in Baramati) are of global quality, Jaitley said. Jaitley said his visit to the institution, which is the hub of rural education and agricultural sciences, has been a great learning experience.

"Pawar was speaking of the challenges of agriculture. Indeed these are very difficult challenges which are all over the country," he said.

"These challenges are because of unpredictable weather and also because 65 per cent population of the country depends on it," he said, adding, they are also of irrigation and rural infrastructure.

"The best of agriculture techniques have to be deployed so that productivity in agriclture goes up. For this, we need these Krishi Vigyan Kendra and such institutes," Jaitley said.

"Education is going to be the hub of the future. These are the minds which are going to carry us forward in the years to come," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Pawar said, "The Indonesian government has developed a variety of sugarcane which requires less water. If we are able to bring that variety here and distribute to the farmers, I am confident that the farming community will be able to produce sugarcane with minimal amount of water and the surplus water will be available for other crops."

Price of agriculture produce is an important issue, Pawar, who was Union Agriculture Minister during the UPA regime, said. "The primary responsibility of the Finance Minister is to strengthen the economy. He is taking steps in that direction," Pawar said.

This is the second time that Pawar is sharing stage with a top leader in the BJP-led Central government, at his home turf Baramati. In February, he had invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Baramati, fuelling speculations in political circles.