NEW DELHI: As farmers continue their protest over the contentious farm laws, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said modernisation in the agriculture sector was the need of the hour and was imperative for creating more employment in the field. “It is already late. We have already lost a lot of time. Adopting new alternatives and innovations, along with traditional farming, are equally important to create new opportunities for employment in the agriculture sector and to increase the income of farmers.
The country has experienced it during the white revolution,” the PM said during the 75th edition of his monthly radio broadcast, Mann Ki Baat. Modi also cited the examples of Banaskantha in Gujarat and Yamunanagar in Haryana, where farmers have taken to bee farming and increased their income. The call comes as farmers have been sitting on protest at Delhi borders since November demanding withdrawal of the three farm laws.
During several rounds of talks with farmer leaders, the Centre has claimed that the new laws will boost farmers’ income by creating one national market and bringing investments. The PM also hailed the “world’s largest vaccination programme” being carried out in India against Covid-19 and reiterated his “dawai bhi, kadai bhi” mantra. He also mentioned the lockdown imposed last year March 25 and referred to the taalithaali campaign during the Janata Curfew as an inspiration for ‘corona warriors’.
“Janata Curfew became a bewilderment to the entire world. It was an unprecedented example of discipline; generations to come will certainly feel proud about that. Similarly, expressing honour and respect for our corona warriors, people beat thaalis and lit lamps! You cannot imagine how much it had touched the hearts of corona warriors and that is the very reason they resolutely held on the whole year, without tiring, without halting,” he added.