Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan ji present on the stage, Rajiv Ranjan Singh ji connected with us from technology, Mr. Bhagirath Chaudhary ji, Chief Ministers of various states, MPs, MLAs, other dignitaries and all my farmer brothers and sisters from across the country.

Today, October 11th, is a historic day. Today is the birth anniversary of two great gems of Mother India who created new history: Bharat Ratna Shri Jayaprakash Narayan ji and Bharat Ratna Shri Nana ji Deshmukh. Both these great sons were the voice of rural India, leaders of the democratic revolution, and dedicated to the welfare of farmers and the poor. Today, on this historic day, two important new schemes are being launched for the self-reliance of the country and for the welfare of farmers. The first is the Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana and the second is the Pulse Self-Reliance Mission (Dalhan Atam Nirbharata Mission). These two schemes will transform the fortunes of millions of farmers in India. The Government of India will spend more than 35,000 crore rupees on these schemes. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all my farmer friends for the PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana and the Pulse Self-Reliance Mission.

Friends, 

Agriculture and farming have always been a major part of our development journey. It's crucial that agriculture continues to receive government support as times change, but unfortunately, previous governments abandoned agriculture to its own fate. There was no vision or thinking from the government regarding agriculture. Different government departments involved in agriculture operated in their own ways, leading to a steadily weakening Indian agricultural system. For 21st-century India to achieve rapid development, reforms to its agricultural system were essential. And it started after 2014, we changed the careless attitude of the previous governments towards agriculture, we carried out countless reforms and improvements for the benefit of all you farmers, from seeds to market. Its results are before us today. In the last 11 years, India's agricultural exports have almost doubled, grain production has increased by about 900 lakh metric tons from what it was earlier, the production of fruits and vegetables has increased by more than 640 lakh metric tons. Today we are number one in the world in milk production, India is the second largest fish producer in the world, honey production in India has also doubled compared to 2014, egg production has also doubled in the last 11 years. During this period, six major fertilizer factories have been built in the country. Farmers have received more than 25 crore Soil Health Cards, micro-irrigation facilities have reached 100 lakh hectares, nearly two lakh crore rupees have been received from the PM Crop Insurance Scheme – this figure is not small, two lakh crore rupees have been received by farmers in the form of claims. In the last 11 years, more than 10 thousand Farmer Producer Organizations – FPOs have also been formed. I was late in coming because I was chatting with many farmers, I spoke with many farmers, I spoke with fishermen, and I had the opportunity to hear the experiences of women working in the agricultural sector. There are many such achievements that the farmers of the country have experienced in the last 11 years.

But friends, 

Today the mood of the country has become such that it is not satisfied with just a few achievements. If we want to develop, then we will have to keep improving in every field and keep improving. The PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana is the result of this thinking. The success of the Aspirational Districts Scheme has been the inspiration behind this scheme. Earlier governments had forgotten more than a hundred districts of the country after declaring them backward. We focused special attention on those districts, declaring them aspirational districts. Our mantra for change in these districts was – convergence, collaboration and competition. This meant first connecting every government department, various schemes, and every citizen of the district, then working with a spirit of everyone's effort, and then engaging in healthy competition with other districts. The benefits of this approach are visible today.

Friends, 

In these more than 100 backward districts, which we now call aspirational districts, now we do not call them backward districts, there were 20 percent settlements which had not seen a road since independence. Today, due to the Aspirational District Scheme, most of such settlements have also been connected by roads. At that time, in what were called backward districts, there were 17 percent children who were outside the scope of vaccination. Today, due to the Aspirational District Scheme, most of such children are getting the benefit of vaccination. In those backward districts, there were more than 15 percent schools which did not have electricity. Today, due to the Aspirational District Scheme, every such school has been provided with electricity connection.

Friends, 

When the deprived get priority, the backward get priority, then the results are also very good. Today, maternal mortality rate has reduced in aspirational districts, children's health has improved, the level of education has improved. These districts are now performing better than other districts on numerous parameters.

Friends, 

Now, on this model, we want to develop 100 districts of the country which are backward in agriculture and are ahead in other things, we want to work by focusing on that. The inspiration behind the PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana is the same model for aspirational districts. 100 districts have been selected very thoughtfully for this scheme. These districts were selected based on three parameters: first, the yield of a farm, second, the number of times a farm is cultivated, and third, whether farmers have access to loans or investment, if any, and in what quantity.

Friends, 

We often hear the number 36 discussed. We repeatedly say that there is a figure of 36 between them. But we challenge everything, we do the opposite. In this scheme we are combining thirty-six schemes of the government together. Like there is a National Mission on Natural Farming, there is Per Drop More Crop campaign for irrigation, there is Oilseeds Mission to increase oil production, many such schemes are being brought together. The PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana is also focusing on our livestock. You know, more than 125 crore vaccines have been administered free of cost to protect animals from diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease. Due to this, the animals have become healthy and the worries of the farmers have also reduced. Under the PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana, campaigns related to animal health will also be launched at the local level.

Friends, 

Like the Aspirational District Programme, the PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana places a huge responsibility on the farmers as well as the local government employees and the DM or Collector of that district. The design of the PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana is such that its planning can be changed according to the needs of each district. Therefore, I would urge the farmers and the heads of the concerned districts that now you have to prepare such an action plan at the district level, which is suitable to the soil and climate there. Each district must work together to determine which crops will be grown, which seed varieties will be used, and which fertilizers will be appropriate for which purpose. This should be carefully considered and implemented in a new way. You need to plan for each region, each farm. Now, if there is excess water somewhere, then there will be such a crop there, if there is shortage of water somewhere, then that type of crops will have to be grown there. Where farming isn't possible, animal husbandry and fisheries will need to be promoted. In some areas, beekeeping would be a better option. Seaweed farming can be a great option in coastal areas. The success of PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana will be possible only through its implementation at the local level. Therefore, there will be a lot of responsibility on our young officers. They have the opportunity to make a difference. I am confident that young friends, together with the farmers, will change the picture of agriculture in hundred districts of the country. And I assure you, as soon as the picture of farming changes in this village, the economy of the entire village will change.

Friends, 

The Pulse Self-Reliance Mission is also being launched today. This isn't just a mission to increase pulse production, but also a mission to empower our future generations. As I said earlier, in the past years, Indian farmers have produced record food grains, be it wheat or paddy, today India is one of the largest producers in the world. But friends, we have to think beyond flour and rice, even in our homes we do not survive on flour and rice, we need other things as well. While flour and rice can satisfy hunger, adequate nutrition requires more, and we need to plan for that. Protein is crucial for India's nutrition today, especially for vegetarians. Protein is one of the other things we need. Protein is equally important for our children, our future generation, for their physical development as well as for their mental development. And it is natural, especially for vegetarians, who are a large community in our country, pulses are the biggest source of protein for them. Pulses are the way to go. But the challenge is that even today, although India is an agricultural country, unfortunately, India still cannot meet its needs for these types of requirements. Today, the country imports pulses in large quantities, importing them from other countries. And therefore, the Pulse Self- Reliance Mission is very important.

Friends, 

The Pulses Self-Reliance Mission worth more than Rs 11 thousand crore will help the farmers a lot in this. The target is that we have to increase the cultivation of pulses by 35 lakh hectares, by hook or by crook. Under this mission, the production of tur, urad and masoor dal will be increased and proper arrangements will be made for the purchase of pulses. This will directly benefit about two crore pulse farmers of the country. A short while ago, I spoke with some pulse farmers. They were brimming with confidence and enthusiasm, and their own experiences have been completely successful. They said that many farmers now come to see how they made it so big. I saw him talking with great strength and confidence about making the country self-reliant in pulses.

Friends, 

From the Red Fort, I discussed the four strong pillars of a developed India. Among these four pillars, you, my fellow farmers, our biggest food providers, are a strong pillar. For the last 11 years, the government has been continuously trying to empower farmers and ensure more investment in agriculture. This priority of ours is also visible in the agriculture budget. The agriculture budget has increased by almost six times in the last 11 years. Our small farmers have benefited the most from this increased budget. Let me give you an example. You know that India provides fertilizer subsidies to its farmers. The Congress government had given a subsidy of Rs 5 lakh crore on fertilizers in its 10 years. 5 lakh crores in 10 years before I came. Our government, the BJP-NDA government, has given more than Rs 13 lakh crore in subsidy on fertilizers in the last 10 years.

Friends, 

The amount that the Congress government used to spend on agriculture in a year, the same amount that the BJP-NDA government deposits in the bank accounts of farmers in the form of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi in one go. Till now Rs 3 lakh 75 thousand crores have been sent directly to your bank accounts under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.

Friends, 

To increase the income of farmers, our government is giving them options beyond traditional farming. Therefore, emphasis is being laid on animal husbandry, fish farming and beekeeping for additional income. This also empowers small farmers and landless families. And the country's farmers are reaping the benefits. Now, as far as the honey production sector is concerned, today almost double the amount of honey is produced in India as compared to 11 years ago. Six-seven years ago, we used to export honey worth about Rs 450 crore, Rs 450 crore. But last year, honey worth more than Rs 1500 crore was exported abroad. Our farmers have received this three times more money.

Friends, 

Today, the participation of our sisters is continuously increasing in the prosperity of the village and modernization of agriculture. I was just talking to a Devi ji, she was from Rajasthan, she is associated with her self-help group, she is telling me that today she has 90 thousand members, 90 thousand, what a great work she must have done. I met a doctor sister; she is herself an educated doctor. But now she is engaged in animal husbandry. Look, whether it is farming work in the fields or animal husbandry, today there are many opportunities for the daughters of the village. The campaign to create three crore lakhpati didis across the country is providing a lot of help to agriculture. Today, Namo Drone Didis are pioneering modern methods of fertilizer and pesticide spraying in villages. Due to this, Namo Drone Didi's are earning thousands of rupees. Similarly, the role of sisters is also increasing in reducing the cost of farming. To encourage farmers to engage in natural farming, more than 17,000 clusters have been created across the country to provide essential support. About 70 thousand Krishi Sakhis are ready to provide necessary guidance to the farmers regarding natural farming.

Friends, 

Our effort is to reduce the expenses of every farmer and every animal husbandry and provide them with more profits. Shivraj ji was talking about the new reforms in GST with great enthusiasm, it has also greatly benefited the village people, farmers and animal herders. The news coming from the market right now shows that farmers are buying tractors in large numbers during this festive season. Because tractors have become even cheaper. When there was Congress government in the country, everything was expensive for the farmers. Just look at tractors, the Congress government used to charge a tax of seventy thousand rupees on a tractor. After the new GST reforms, the same tractor has become cheaper by about forty thousand rupees.

Friends, 

GST has also been reduced significantly on other machines used by farmers. For example, there will be a saving of fifteen thousand rupees on the paddy planting machine. Similarly, savings of ten thousand rupees have been guaranteed on power tillers, and you will also save up to twenty-five thousand rupees on threshers. Be it equipment related to drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation or harvesting machines, GST has been drastically reduced on all.

Friends, 

The fertilizers and pesticides that promote natural farming have also become cheaper due to the reduction in GST. Overall, a family in the village has doubled its savings. Firstly, everyday items have become cheaper and on top of that, farming equipment is also available at lower prices.

My dear farmer friends, 

After independence, you made India self-sufficient in food production. Now, you have a major role to play in building a developed India. On one hand, we have to be self-reliant. On the other hand, we also have to produce for the global market. Now, friends, we must knock on the doors of the world. We also have to focus on such crops which become popular in the world markets. We have to reduce imports and should not lag behind in increasing exports. The PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana and the Pulse Self-Reliance Mission will play a major role in this. On this important occasion, I once again extend my best wishes to my farmer brothers and sisters for these schemes. I also extend my greetings to you for the upcoming Diwali festival. Thank you very much.

 

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