India enhancing the role of engineering and science in agriculture: PM Modi

At the Kisan Tak Bharat Agriculture Conference, the Prime Minister spoke about reducing cultivation costs and improving farm productivity through science and technology.PM Narendra Modi seen speaking at the Kisan Tak Agro Conference. (Photo: India Today)New Delhi,Nov 12, 2026 21:30 ISTPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday highlighted the growing role of science, engineering and technology in transforming Indian agriculture, urging engineers to develop solar-powered farm equipment and pointing to artificial intelligence (AI), scientific soil testing and livestock vaccination as key tools to improve farming.Addressing the India Today Group's Kisan Tak Bharat Agriculture Conference at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Modi said India was witnessing new opportunities ranging from agricultural science and research to agri-startups.He added that young people and scientists were helping farmers reduce cultivation costs and make harvesting more efficient. Farmers are seen working together in a soybean field. (Photo: PTI) SOLAR FARMING AND ROLE OF AICalling for greater innovation in farm machinery, PM Modi urged engineers to develop equipment that runs on solar energy, saying India was working towards taking solar power to every farm. He cited nearly 12 lakh solar pumps provided to farmers under government schemes as an example of the integration of renewable energy into agriculture.The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM), launched in 2019, is among the key initiatives supporting this transition. The scheme promotes standalone solar pumps, solarisation of existing agricultural pumps and decentralised solar power generation, helping reduce farmers' dependence on diesel and conventional electricity for irrigation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an interaction with beneficiaries of PM-KUSUM scheme. (Photo: PTI) The prime minister also highlighted the importance of scientific soil testing, citing Gujarat's experience in expanding its soil-testing infrastructure.He said the number of soil-testing laboratories in the state had increased to around 8,400 from just a handful in 2014.He also pointed to emerging technologies that allow farmers to access soil-related information through their phones, helping them make better-informed decisions about fertiliser use and crop management.Artificial intelligence, he said, was opening up further possibilities by making farmers more informed and improving agricultural decision-making.SCIENCE IS SAVING FARMS AND LIVESTOCKSLivestock health was another area where scientific interventions were making a difference. A man herds his livestock during heavy rain. (Photo: PTI) Modi referred to the nationwide vaccination drive against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), which has benefited around 8 crore farmers.The National Animal Disease Control Programme uses vaccination and disease surveillance to protect livestock, reduce outbreaks and limit economic losses.Opening his address, Modi linked agriculture with India's cultural traditions, noting that festivals such as Chhath are closely connected with farming.He also referred to World Bank findings on poverty reduction and said India's farm sector had recorded growth of over 4%, describing it as a significant milestone in the country's post-Independence journey.Combining scientific research, engineering and technology with farmers' needs, he said, would be crucial to the next phase of agricultural development.- Ends