PM's four-pronged approach to boost farm income

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday outlined a four-pronged strategy involving reduction in input costs, ensuring better prices for farm produce, easier market access for fruit and vegetables, and creating alternate sources of earnings to increase farmers' income.

Addressing a conference on 'Doubling Farmers' income by 2022' here, Modi also said it was the priority of his government to complete on time 99 mega irrigation projects, stuck for the last three decades, at a cost of Rs 80,000 crore.

"By the end of this year, we plan to complete as many as 50 projects and the rest would be completed by next year," Modi said.

Hardselling agri-reforms, he said his government had also ensured settlement of claims to the tune of Rs 11,000 crore under the crop insurance scheme, which was double the settlements made last year.

Modi said 100% neem coating of urea had led to increased efficiency in its use, which has increased productivity of farmers. He claimed that the use of soil health cards has led to a reduction in the use of chemical fertilisers, which has led to savings by farmers.

In the budget 2018-19, 'Operation Greens' has been announced to augment the farm supply chain that will help cultivation of tomato, onion and potato, he said.

The prime minister said 22,000 rural markets would be upgraded so as to provide a market for farm produce within 5-15 km distance of production points.

Promoting the use of solar energy, converting agriculture waste into wealth and economical use of crop residue will also help in doubling farmers' income by 2022, he said.