Mann ki Baat: PM Modi praises apple farming in Karnataka, showcases India's green success stories

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed a farmer's effort to grow an apple in Bagalkot and said, "Where there is a will, there is a way."

Addressing the 121st episode of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat, the PM shared an inspiring story of agricultural innovation of Shail Teli from Bagalkot, where he has grown apples in the plains.

"Shail Teli ji, who lives in Bagalkot, Karnataka, has grown apples in the plains. In his Kulali village, apple trees have started bearing fruits even in temperatures above 35 degrees, " the PM said.

"Actually, since Shri Shail Teli was fond of farming, so he tried apple farming as well and he attained success in it. Today, a lot of apples grow on the trees planted by him and he is earning a good income by selling them," the PM said.

The PM urged citizens across the country to actively participate in the campaign by planting trees in the name of their mothers.

Modi also shared inspiring examples from Ahmedabad, Kinnaur, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Kerala, where people have successfully cultivated trees and crops in challenging climate conditions.

The Prime Minister mentioned that on June 5, which is World Environment Day, the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign will complete one year. He said that during this one year, more than 140 crore trees have been planted across the country under this initiative.

Highlighting the environmental transformation in Ahmedabad, PM Modi said, in the last few years, more than 70 lakh trees have been planted in Ahmedabad, Gujarat and increased the green area in the city.

The Prime Minister also spoke about saffron cultivation in Kerala. "In Wayanad, this saffron is not being grown in any field or soil; rather, with the help of the Aeroponics Technique."

Speaking about the spread of litchi cultivation, PM Modi praised the efforts of Thiru Veera Arasu from Tamil Nadu, who transitioned from cultivating coffee to successfully planting litchi trees in Kodaikanal. PM Modi also mentioned Jitendra Singh Ranawat's success in growing litchi in Rajasthan.