Agri sector grew over 4%, 50 crore overcame poverty: PM at Kisan Tak Conference

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India's agriculture sector had recorded an average annual growth rate of over 4 per cent in the past decade, the first such achievement since Independence. He also said nearly 50 crore people had overcome poverty in 13 years, with small farmers and agricultural labourers among those who had moved out of poverty.Addressing the plenary session of the India Today Group's Kisan Tak Bharat Agriculture Conference at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi, PM Modi said agricultural growth had coincided with a sharp decline in rural poverty.Citing a World Bank study, the Prime Minister said around 50 crore Indians had overcome poverty over the past 12-13 years, with rural areas witnessing a particularly rapid decline. "Over the past 12-13 years, 50 crore poor people in India have overcome poverty," he said.FOLLOW LIVE BLOG UPDATES HERE Highlighting India's growing position in global agricultural markets, PM Modi said the country's agricultural exports had crossed Rs 4 lakh crore annually. He said the achievement reflected the expanding capabilities of Indian farmers and rising farm production.India is now the world's largest producer of milk, pulses and millets, while it has also emerged as a leading producer of rice, PM Modi said. "The country ranks second globally in the production of wheat, cotton, vegetables and fish," he added. "These are not just figures. They show the immense capabilities of India's farmers," the Prime Minister said.He also pointed to the expansion of allied agricultural activities, saying they were creating additional income opportunities for farming households.Referring to the Sweet Revolution, PM Modi said honey production had increased from around 80,000 tonnes to 1.5 lakh tonnes. Horticulture production, meanwhile, had risen from 280 million tonnes to more than 350 million tonnes.He said integrating different agricultural activities into a broader development strategy could help farmers diversify their earnings rather than depend on a single source of income.FARMERS BECOMING ENERGY PRODUCERSPM Modi also highlighted the role of renewable energy in creating new opportunities for farmers, saying the expansion of solar power had enabled them to become 'urjadataas' (energy providers) in addition to being 'annadatas' (food providers).Under the PM-KUSUM scheme, around 12 lakh solar pumps had been provided, he said."The scheme was helping farmers reduce their electricity expenses while opening up opportunities to earn additional income by installing solar power plants on agricultural land and selling electricity," he added.The Prime Minister said the government's approach to agriculture went beyond increasing production and focused on improving productivity and farmers' profitability.Referring to his 25 years as the head of a government, PM Modi said India's agricultural sector had made considerable progress during this period. He indicated that he would share more figures to explain the changes.Emphasising the importance of farming in India's development journey, PM Modi said the goal of a developed India could not be achieved without empowering farmers and making agriculture more productive and technology-driven."Building a developed India is impossible without developing agriculture, making farming smarter and empowering farmers," he said.The Prime Minister recalled the India Today Group's participation in the Swachh Bharat campaign and said agriculture was among the seven key areas of strength he had highlighted from the Red Fort as part of his vision for a developed India.- Ends