Agri exports, key to doubling farmers’ income: Govt

Food Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal recently stated while addressing the second day of the Prime Minister’s meeting on the initiative and plans of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Welfare that agricultural exports play an important role in doubling farmers’ incomes. He also emphasized the need to increase India’s overseas shipments to the top five agricultural exporters. The minister added that food security was synonymous with peasant security, and reforms for peasants led India to the path of Atmanil Bharat. Therefore, the Union Government is working with the State government to improve the state of farmers.

Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar was also present at this meeting. He added that a database of 550 million rupees of farmers is ready and work is underway to verify others with land records. He also urged the states to take advantage of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund so that the benefits can trickle down to the small and marginal farmers who lack warehousing and cold storage facilities at the farm gate. He recently said the federal cabinet has approved the National Cooking Oil Mission (NMEO-OP) for palm oil, which focuses on the North-East region and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.