Prime Minister – Ram-Ram!

Farmer – Ram-Ram! I am from Hisar district, Haryana. I began farming with the cultivation of Kabuli chana (chickpeas). Initially, there was only a little...

Prime Minister – How many years ago did you start this?

Farmer – It has been four years now. I get a yield of about 10 quintals per acre from Kabuli chana.

Prime Minister – There are some crops which are intercropped like pulses.

Farmer – Yes.

Prime Minister – So, you get an additional income, though it requires a little more effort. Seeing this, do other farmers also feel encouraged to move towards pulses, thinking that their land will revive again?

Farmer – Yes, indeed. That’s what we think. I tell other farmers that if we cultivate pulses like chickpeas, we will not only get this crop, but the next crop will also benefit. Chickpeas and other pulse crops leave nitrogen in the soil, which enriches it for the next yield.

Farmer – This is the first time in my life that I have met the Prime Minister. He is a very good Prime Minister, deeply connected to farmers and ordinary people alike.

Farmer – I am also associated with the Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO). I am a Chartered Accountant by profession, but I also cultivate pulses. Our family owns 16 bighas of land, where I grow chickpeas. We have also formed groups of 20 women each in our village, and together we prepare products like chana-lahsun-papad. Since our... (audio unclear)... there is garlic in it...

Prime Minister – Oh, so you do the product manufacturing there itself?

Farmer – Yes, yes, yes.

Prime Minister – Have you given your product a brand name?

Farmer – Yes, our village is called Dugari, so we have branded it as Dugari Wale.

Prime Minister – I see.

Farmer – Yes, chana-lahsun-papad, branded as Dugari Wale Chana-Lahsun-Papad.

Prime Minister – Do people buy them?

Farmer – Yes, sir. We are registered on GeM, the Government e-Marketplace portal. Army personnel purchase from there, sir.

Prime Minister – So, is it known across Rajasthan?

Farmer – Sir, it’s sold all over India.

Prime Minister – Really?

Farmer – Yes.

Prime Minister – Are there others producing similar products?

Farmer – Yes, there are others too. But it’s mainly women who make them.

Prime Minister – Then you’ll have to bring some for everyone to taste!

Farmer – Absolutely, sir, of course!

Farmer – We had goosebumps thinking how we would meet the Prime Minister. When he arrived, seeing his aura left us speechless. It was an indescribable moment.

Farmer – I have been cultivating pulses since 2013–14. I started with one acre and gradually expanded to 13–14 acres of chickpeas.

Prime Minister – Yes. So, earlier you grew chickpeas on one acre and other crops elsewhere?

Farmer – Yes, sir.

Prime Minister – And slowly, you increased the area?

Farmer – Yes, I expanded it to about 13–14 acres, and...

Prime Minister – How did this affect your income?

Farmer – My income improved because I selected high-quality seeds year after year, and productivity kept rising.

Prime Minister – For vegetarians, pulses are the main source of protein, aren’t they?

Farmer – Yes, sir.

Prime Minister – So, when you cultivate pulses, it’s not just about filling your own pocket; you are also contributing greatly to society.

Farmer – Correct.

Prime Minister – Nowadays, our farms are small; landholdings are fragmented. Because of that, when someone tries an experiment, he often feels alone. But imagine, if 200 farmers come together...

Farmer – Yes.

Prime Minister – ...and decide that all 200 of them, covering 400 or 500 bighas of land, will collectively grow one or two selected crops and market them well—would that benefit farmers more?

Farmer – Absolutely, sir. We are doing residue-free farming on about 1,200 acres for Kabuli chana. Farmers are getting significantly better returns than before.

Prime Minister – So, all farmers have agreed to it now, which must have reduced your labour too?

Farmer – Yes, because we have built such a system.

Farmer – I am from Beed district.

Prime Minister – From where? Beed district. There’s usually a water shortage there, isn’t it?

Farmer – That’s why, sir, I want to thank you immensely for launching the Dhan-Dhaanya scheme.

Prime Minister – Thank you. Just as we have been promoting millets everywhere — our traditional grains like bajra, jowar (sorghum) and others — they now have huge global markets. Even on water-scarce land, farmers can earn a good living.

Farmer – Yes, because of millets.

Prime Minister – Do you also cultivate millets?

Farmer – Yes, I do.

Prime Minister – Which varieties do you grow?

Farmer – Bajra, jowar, and Bhuna chana too.

Prime Minister – So, people still consume them?

Farmer – Yes, they do, everyone does.

Prime Minister – That’s good.

Farmer – And along with that, when we supply to customers, some are in Bombay.

Farmer – After speaking to him, it didn’t feel like meeting the Prime Minister; it felt like meeting someone from our own family.

Farmer – In my area, I cultivate arhar. I would urge the youth to take interest in this. It will benefit farmers and also offer a good business opportunity.

Farmer – I am a woman associated with a self-help group. I joined the group in 2023 and began cultivating moong on my five bighas of land. Sir, your PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme is truly a blessing for us. The ₹6,000 we receive annually helps immensely — for buying seeds, tilling the land, and other farming needs. It’s indeed a huge support for us.

Prime Minister – Do you ever feel like gradually reducing the use of fertilisers?

Farmer – Yes, women...

Prime Minister – Because we should remember, the Earth is our mother. If we keep feeding her such chemicals, how long will she survive?

Farmer – That’s true, sir.

Prime Minister – Do farmers discuss this?

Farmer – Yes, they do.

Prime Minister – Once they realise that they have to leave fertile soil for their children, not barren land, they’ll automatically try not to harm it. Farmers can help in this. For example, if someone owns four bighas of land...

Farmer – Yes.

Prime Minister – ...and you tell him to completely switch to natural farming, he will be afraid.

Farmer – Yes, he won’t dare.

Prime Minister – He will think, “I’ll starve.” So, instead, tell him — don’t listen to us blindly. Divide your land into four parts. Try our method on one bigha; continue your usual way on the other three.

Farmer – Correct.

Prime Minister – Work with us for two years. Once he sees success, he will expand from one bigha to one and a half, then two, and so on. That’s how confidence builds. If we ask him to convert all four bighas at once, he won’t — he will fear losing his livelihood.

Farmer – I grow chickpeas, lentils, and guar. Though I have only two acres of land, I manage small-scale farming gradually.

Prime Minister – You see, even a farmer with two acres can perform miracles.

Farmer – Yes, bit by bit...

Prime Minister – The land may be small, but the farmer’s mind is vast, full of courage and determination.

Farmer – Yes, sir.

Prime Minister – Have you ever thought of putting a fence around your fields? Usually, the neighbour also puts up a fence, and between the two, some land gets wasted. But if both sides install solar panels instead — yours tilting this way, his tilting that way — you can both generate electricity, use it, and sell the surplus.

Farmer – That’s a wonderful idea, sir. It’s possible...

Prime Minister – Yes, that’s the direction we should move in. The government provides funds for this now.

Farmer – People are taking it up, sir, and gaining good benefits.

Prime Minister – Another thing — we should also promote recharge wells to allow rainwater to percolate underground. That raises the water table and benefits everyone.

Farmer – Yes, absolutely.

Prime Minister – It’s been wonderful speaking with you all. You are brave and hardworking farmers experimenting with new methods — that makes me very happy. Often, people just say, “My father did this, my uncle did this, so I’ll do the same.” But we need to encourage the youth to move beyond that mindset.

Farmer – Thanks to the Ministry of Animal Husbandry & Dairying , we received a 50% subsidy. Earlier, I had a few cows, but now I own over 250 Gir cows. Back in 2010, I worked as a room boy in a hotel. Today, I own a Gaushala worth crores. The central government has provided tremendous support.

Prime Minister – How did you go from being a room boy to this position?

Farmer – It’s due to government initiatives, sir.

Prime Minister – With so many cows, do you keep them all or distribute some to others?

Farmer – I gifted 63 cows, including calves, to an Adivasi woman practicing organic farming and living in poverty.

Prime Minister – I see. I am the MP of Kashi. I did a similar experiment there: I distributed Gir cows to about 100 families, with the condition that the first calf must be returned to me. Then I gave it to another family.

Farmer – In 2020, during the global lockdown, I conducted research and then visited the department in Haridwar, where I learned about the Prime Minister’s Matsya Sampada Yojana. It felt life-changing. Thanks to the subsidies and assistance from this scheme, I received significant support.

Prime Minister – How many people do you employ?

Farmer – About 25 young men from small villages in Uttarakhand work with us, sir. They learn a lot here.

Prime Minister – Excellent.

Farmer – Some have gone to different places and are applying their skills independently.

Farmer – I have also focused on ornamental fish.

Prime Minister – Ah, aquaculture.

Farmer – I started this for the first time in Uttar Pradesh, sir.

Prime Minister – Yes, how did you do it? Where did you receive training?

Farmer – Sir, I hold a PhD and my subject was this very field. I decided to become a job provider rather than a job seeker. That’s why I started this venture (location unclear).

Prime Minister – Aquaculture has immense potential worldwide.

Farmer – Yes, indeed.

Prime Minister – Bharat has special advantages in this sector. Focusing here opens huge market opportunities.

Farmer – The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana is a great hope for startup farmers.

Farmer – Your vision that if villages prosper, the country will prosper inspired me. In Saraikela, I adopted 125 poor tribal families and started integrated farming there.

Prime Minister – Did your education prepare you for this, or did you train on-site?

Farmer – Sir, you have been my role model.

Prime Minister – Oh, really?

Farmer – You called on the nation to become job givers rather than job seekers. Globally, Tata Steel sells its products — my products are sold by Tata Steel too.

Prime Minister – Wonderful.

Farmer – Sir, you have been my guide and inspiration. Small advice and interactions from you have continuously transformed my life.

Farmer – I am associated with the Sakhi organisation. Our journey began with 20 women and now 90,000 women are working.

Prime Minister – 90,000 !

Farmer – Yes, sir. These women earn well through selling milk, and we have created over 14,000 Lakhpati Didis so far.

Prime Minister – That’s miraculous!

Farmer – I also have excellent fishing operations here.

Prime Minister – Yes.

Farmer – Thanks to your PMMSY scheme, we were able to implement ice planning and proper aquaculture management.

Prime Minister – How many work with you?

Farmer – About 100 people.

Prime Minister – Are there others with similar initiatives?

Farmer – Yes, sir. Another group recently arrived from Andaman. Previously, we couldn’t reach them properly, but thanks to the PMMSY scheme, the board is operational and ice supply is available. There is also space for keeping fish.

Prime Minister – Oh, excellent.

Farmer – I came from Kashmir. I learned about your PMMSY scheme through a programme, began working, and started the culture. I now have 14 employees.

Prime Minister – I see.

Farmer – Yes, 14 employees, and I earn about ₹15 lakh profit annually. The market is good, and others also benefit.

Prime Minister – Now that you can ship goods by train, your products will reach markets faster.

Farmer – Development is happening rapidly, thanks to your support. I don’t think this would have been possible under any other Prime Minister.

Prime Minister – Jammu and Kashmir has a very capable youth.

Farmer – Yes, all this has been possible under your government, not otherwise.

Farmer – Meeting them and discussing aquaculture felt like natural therapy.

Farmer – Namaskaram.

Prime Minister – Namaskar.

Farmer – Sir, I actually returned from the US in 2014.

Prime Minister – And you left the USA?

Farmer – Yes, I left the USA to employ my own people. I started with a small 10-acre farm. Now, I manage over 300 acres of farming, plus hatcheries producing seeds for more than 10,000 acres. I benefited from FIDF at about 7% interest, which allowed significant expansion. Currently, I have about 200 employees, sir.

Prime Minister – Wow! Great!

Farmer – Narendra Modi Ji was walking towards us — a pause moment in my life. It was a “wow” situation.

Prime Minister – Namaste, brother.

Farmer – I am from Dhari, Amreli district, Gujarat. My name is Bhavna Gondviya. My FPO has 1,700 farmers. We have been paying a 20% dividend continuously for four years.

Prime Minister – 1,700 farmers?

Farmer – Yes, sir.

Prime Minister – What is the total land under cultivation?

Farmer – We are farming on 1,500 acres and continuously giving 20% dividend for four years, amounting to over ₹200 crore.

Prime Minister – Do they grow different crops or follow a set plan?

Farmer – We also work under MSP. Our major achievement is that when our FPO lacked funds, the government provided ₹2 crore without guarantee. That was a significant milestone.

Farmer – Namaskar, Prime Minister Ji. My name is Sunil Kumar from Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. We mainly cultivate cumin using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) organically.

Prime Minister – I see.

Farmer – My FPO has 1,035 farmers, growing cumin and Isabgol.

Prime Minister – Where is the cumin market?

Farmer – We supply to different exporters within Gujarat, who then take it further.

Prime Minister – Has anyone tried making Isabgol ice cream?

Farmer – No, sir.

Prime Minister – Imagine the market potential!

Farmer – Yes, sir. The Prime Minister’s small idea on value addition inspired us. We had never thought of ice cream before, but now we will explore it.

Farmer – I am Dharmendra Kumar Maur from Mirzapur, near your parliamentary constituency Varanasi. We work on millets.

Prime Minister – Millets?

Farmer – Yes, sir.

Prime Minister – You package and brand them for sale?

Farmer – Yes, sir. We supply to Defence and NDRF under an MoU.

Farmer – My name is Fayaz Ahmed from Kashmir. We produce apples.

Prime Minister – Apples?

Farmer – Yes.

Prime Minister – Have you received transport for apples?

Farmer – Yes, the vehicle is arranged.

Prime Minister – 60,000 tonnes of fruits, vegetables, and flowers have reached Delhi by rail.

Farmer – Yes, they have reached Delhi and other locations.

Prime Minister – That’s a remarkable achievement.

Farmer – But…

Prime Minister – Trucks take a lot of time.

Farmer – I am Roushik Sukhlam (name unclear) from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. We produce potato seeds through aeroponics.

Prime Minister – Exactly.

Farmer – Yes, sir. We use vertical and horizontal farming. These are potato seeds. While they aren’t gold, they are as valuable as gold because we multiply them in the field for farmers to cultivate.

Prime Minister – So you do the top-level multiplication...

Farmer – Yes, sir.

Prime Minister – Potatoes.

Farmer – Hanging potatoes, sir.

Prime Minister – That’s suitable for Jain consumers. If it grows underground, they don’t eat it; if above ground, they do.

Farmer – When we met Narendra Modi Ji, we showed him the mini tubers. He knew about horizontal farming and aeroponics. He recognised this as “Jain potatoes” immediately. He termed these potatoes 'Jain potatoes'.

Farmer – Sir, greetings. My name is Mohammad Aslam from Baran district, Rajasthan. We work on garlic.

Prime Minister – Where are you from?

Farmer – Baran district, Rajasthan.

Prime Minister – Baran, Rajasthan.

Farmer – Yes, sir. We do value addition for garlic — powder, paste, and have applied for export licenses.

Prime Minister – I met a young man who makes papad from Besan and garlic.

Farmer – Sir, I am honoured to share this with you through Mann Ki Baat.

Prime Minister – Great ! Thank you very much, brother.

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MJPS/VJ/IG