Farmers across the country expressed concern about inferior pesticides and seeds, called for strict law to curb their sale: Shivraj Singh Chauhan. Bharat News

It is not that I will only know about the problems when someone tells me. I live on a farm. But interaction reveals various aspects of problems. One thing is to ensure that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, because he took over in 2014, the production of food grains has increased by more than 40%. This time, also, we have achieved an all -time high production. We are very good in production using new technology, and our scientists are also doing research. Things are going on, but for a developed India, which is the Prime Minister’s resolve, I believe that developed agriculture and prosperous farmers are prominent. For this, it is necessary that all the force working in agriculture go in one direction – is it for the Union and State Governments, Research scientists, farmers, agricultural universities and agricultural teams of progressive farmers. Right now, I see a shortage of it. Work is going on in different directions. This is why we came with a nation, one agriculture, a team. The team is now in the fields among the farmers and is discussing.

Some time ago, a committee constituted by your ministry suggested the body like the GST Council for agriculture. Do you think such a body is needed, especially given a nation, an agriculture, your slogan of a team?

I have held three meetings with the Agriculture Ministers of the states in a year. A virtual, twice-person. Before every crop season, we organize a separate conference for Rabi and Kharif, where not only the Agriculture Minister, but the officials, scientists, agricultural universities and many others participate. Together, we decide on the roadmap. So, it is not that there is no such structure. But what should be done to improve it, this time we are getting widespread experience. I am going to a state every day and this process will not be closed after the last day of the Vikasi Krishi Sankalap Abhiyan, which started on 29 May). I will also go to the remaining states, whatever the party is in power. Apart from agriculture ministers, I also talked to the Chief Ministers and urged them to cooperate in this campaign. Creating a structure will not cooperate. Based on this experience, we will try to create whatever type of structure we need to create in the future.

What is the farmers today and what they have shared with you?

Indian agriculture has various characteristics and problems. For example, farmers in Odisha talked about damage to common crops due to climate change … In Uttar Pradesh, they shared their concerns about the disease in the variety of sugarcane. In both states, farmers said that new varieties should be developed. In Karnataka and Maharashtra, he talked about increasing the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. There were also concerns about water scarcity. However, one thing, what I found in the whole country was that the farmers expressed concern about poor pesticides and seeds and said that many times they get robbed and upset due to this, and therefore a strict law should be made.

The agricultural land is shrinking and hence the number of farmers. How do you see this trend?

Land is decreasing but technology is changing. For example, we are now experimenting with solar panels and below fruits and vegetables at the top. Hydroponics have started in many places that require less land. With the speed of urbanization and industrialization, cities will expand, agricultural land will gradually decrease. We have to develop technology through which we can produce more on less land, and this is happening.

Have you identified concerns about the turn of agricultural land to build highways in the government at any level?

We have to think in a balanced way. You need highways, you need ports, you need railway lines, you need airports, you need industry, you need agriculture. India cannot function without agriculture. If we think about the whole country, many things are important.

The Prime Minister had set a target to double the income of farmers by 2022, what is the situation now?

For many people, it has increased ten times. There are all types of examples. Ram Pratap Sharma is a farmer from Haryana, he lives in a village near Pinipat. He is earning a profit of 21 lakhs from seven acres. In Bangalore, farmers are earning 6-7 lakhs per acre by growing dragon fruit. I can give many examples. The income of many farmers has increased, but it does not apply to everyone due to various factors: how farming is being done, how much input is being used, what is the size of the land, what is the weather, how was the rain. Many things depend on circumstances but what is certain is that production and income are much better than before. I cannot speak for every farmer…. Overall, income has increased.

Soon after assuming office as the Agriculture Minister, you suggested the idea of ​​a group of ministers under their chairmanship, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Affiliation.

I did not say whose control it should be.

What is the concept of this gom?

We have to make a model of integrated farming as the land here is very low … the number of small and marginal farmers has increased. Therefore, only the grain will not be sufficient. It has to be diverse. Grain, fruits, vegetables, beekeeping, animal husbandry, processing. We are making such models to show that this can be done. For this, it is necessary that all ministries sit together and think in one direction.

For this, must be a platform?

There is still a platform. The cabinet is such a platform. We sit together when needed. But if more formal views are given about this and the process of sitting together increases from time to time, it would be better.