Daijiworld Media Network – Vidisha
Vidisha, Aug 31: Union Agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday asserted that India now speaks to the world with confidence, resisting pressure from foreign nations to open its farm markets, and underlined that farmers’ interests will never be compromised.
Addressing a symposium on advanced farming in Vidisha, his Lok Sabha constituency, Chouhan said, “Some countries were pressuring us to fully open the agricultural market. But today, India is in a position to speak to the world with its head held high.” Without naming the United States, he recalled the days when India had to import “low-quality PL-480 wheat” but stressed that the nation today has abundant reserves thanks to record production of wheat, rice and maize.
He pointed out that India achieved a 3.7% growth in agriculture this year, and despite tariffs imposed by the US, the country’s GDP surged by 7.8% in the April-June quarter — the highest in five quarters — with agriculture playing the biggest role.
The former MP chief minister outlined a six-point strategy for farmers focusing on higher output, reduced costs, fair pricing, loss compensation, crop diversification and promotion of natural farming. He also revealed that 2,170 teams of agricultural scientists have been deployed to directly assist farmers. “From October 3, scientific teams will visit farms during the Rabi season to share modern techniques aimed at boosting productivity and lowering costs,” he said.
Highlighting misuse of inputs, Chouhan said nearly 30,000 bio-stimulant products had been sold without proper scientific testing. “Now, only products validated by ICAR or agricultural universities will be permitted. Companies selling fake or ineffective products will face FIRs, licence cancellations and will have to compensate farmers,” he warned.
Appealing to citizens to adopt swadeshi practices, Chouhan urged them to prefer domestic goods, including food, clothing and essentials, to strengthen local employment and the economy instead of spending on foreign products.