Some countries pressured us to open agriculture market; but India now stands tall: Agri minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday stated some countries had earlier pressured India to open its agricultural market, but the nation stands tall immediately and engages on the worldwide stage with confidence. Without naming the United States, he drew a distinction between India’s previous dependence on imported wheat and its present file harvests.“Some countries were pressuring us to fully open the agricultural market, but today we can proudly say India is in a position to speak to the world with its chin up (in an assertive manner),” PTI quoted him as saying whereas addressing a symposium on superior farming in Vidisha, his Lok Sabha constituency.The minister recalled that there was a time when India was “forced to consume low-quality PL-480 wheat from the United States.” He added: “But today, our food reserves are abundant. India achieved record 3.7 per cent growth in agriculture this year, resulting in record production of wheat, rice and maize, which has filled the nation’s food reserves to the brim.”Chouhan stated makes an attempt to impose tariffs on India had been anticipated to disrupt the financial system, but the nation registered the best GDP progress in simply three months, with agriculture as the biggest contributor. India’s GDP grew 7.8 per cent within the April-June quarter of the present fiscal, the best in 5 quarters earlier than the imposition of heavy tariff by the United States, he famous.He emphasised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s stance that “national interest is paramount” and that farmers’ pursuits wouldn’t be compromised. Chouhan additionally underlined the necessity to enhance output whereas decreasing prices.Outlining a six-pronged technique for farmers, he listed larger manufacturing, decrease prices, truthful pricing, loss compensation, crop diversification, and promotion of pure farming. He urged farmers to undertake diversification practices rooted in conventional strategies.Chouhan stated the federal government has deployed 2,170 scientific groups immediately to farmers’ fields. “For the upcoming Rabi season, scientific teams will visit farms from October 3 to share knowledge on new techniques and advanced cultivation methods, aiming to raise productivity and lower costs,” he stated.He flagged issues over the misuse of agricultural inputs, noting that sellers earlier compelled farmers to purchase pesticides or fertilisers with out correct checks. He identified that just about 30,000 bio-stimulant merchandise had been as soon as offered with out scientific testing.“But now only those validated by ICAR or agricultural universities will be available. Selling ineffective or fake products will lead to FIRs, licence cancellations for companies and compensation to farmers,” Chouhan stated.Urging residents to undertake swadeshi practices, he appealed to individuals to purchase domestically produced clothes, meals and every day necessities to assist native employment and commerce somewhat than spend on overseas merchandise.