Vice President addresses students at Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry
Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar said today at Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry , Solan that “Nowadays when we talk about Artificial Intelligence, the young generation is fortunate as they can travel from Agriculture Intelligence to Artificial Intelligence”. He said that “Artificial Intelligence, Agriculture Intelligence is the medium that will bring revolutionary changes in the rural system.”
While discussing the path to a developed India at Dr. YS Parmar Horticulture and Forestry University in Solan, Himachal Pradesh, the Vice President categorically stated that “the path to a developed India will go in only one way – through the farmer’s field. And that will happen only when you hold the farmer’s hand.” He described farmers as not only providers of food but also the makers of destiny.
Expressing concern over the export mentality, Mr Dhankhar said , ” I feel very troubled when people say – ‘ This is export material , this is for export’. Brother , why ? We have to eat the best , we have to wear the best.” He proudly said that today Indians are leading in major institutions of the world and particularly appreciated the increasing participation of women.
Speaking on the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, the Vice President requested the Indian Council of Agricultural Research that the current amount of Rs 6,000 should be increased in proportion to inflation. He said, “If the assistance reaches the farmer directly, whatever indirect financial assistance is being given to the agriculture sector, if it reaches the farmer families directly, then every farmer family is my estimate and my estimate is after study that where Rs 6000 is being received under PM Kisan Nidhi, Rs 30,000 will be added to it annually.”
Throwing light on the benefits of direct subsidy, he said , ” If fertilizer subsidy is given directly to the farmers, then the farmer will decide whether he should buy that fertilizer or use the dung manure from the livestock. The farmer will think that he should do organic farming , natural farming , the farmer will decide this himself.”
Emphasizing on rural entrepreneurship in the program, the Vice President said , ” Rural boys and girls from the farming community should be trained here to become entrepreneurs, agricultural entrepreneurs. An army of them should be created.” Giving the example of America, he said that the average income of farmer families there is more than that of ordinary families and the reason for this is that government aid is directly given to the farmers.
Emphasizing the need for value addition, Shri Dhankhar said , “ Today we will have to pay attention to the rural system. Vegetables come to the village from the city , fruits come from the city – how can we tolerate this in the country that if there is excess of tomatoes, then tomatoes will go on the streets ?” He emphasized the need for value addition and food processing on the farm itself.
On the occasion of this program, Member of Parliament Mr. Suresh Kumar Kashyap , Health and Family Welfare Minister of Himachal Pradesh Government Dr. (Colonel) Dhani Ram Shandil , Vice Chancellor of Dr. YS Parmar Horticulture and Forestry University Prof. Rajeshwar Singh Chandel and other dignitaries were also present.
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