PM Modi underlines importance of collective fight against climate change
Sangareddy: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has underlined the importance to launch a collective fight to alleviate the impact of climate change on the agriculture sector. He also stated that India was moving forward to promote digitalisation and modernisation of agriculture.
Addressing the scientists of the ICRISAT (International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics) located at Patancheru near Hyderabad on Saturday, the Prime Minister has urged the Scientists to work on reducing the impact of climate change on small landholders since 80 percent of Indian farmers were small and marginal farmers.
The Prime Minister has inaugurated Climate Change Research Facility on Plant Protection and Rapid Generation Advancement Facility at ICRISAT during his visit on Saturday. He also unveiled the 50 years new logo of ICRISAT and a postal stamp to mark the golden jubilee celebrations.
“It is happy to see while India celebrating the 75 years celebrations, ICRISAT is celebrating 50 years celebrations. While India had a vision for the next 25 years of development when it celebrates 100 years of freedom, the ICRISAT management must have such a vision for the next 25 years in agriculture research, he said.
He has lauded the ICRISAT for extending support to the Indian farming sector during the past 50 years by making agriculture sustainable with various initiatives. After going through the exhibition at the ICRISAT, Modi said that he understood the efforts of ICRISAT on water and soil management, crop diversity, livestock integration, and other works.
Congratulating the scientists of ICRISAT, who had contributed enormously to the improvement of agriculture in Asia and Africa, Modi said the Indian government is concentrating on learning from the past and carving a better future for the farming sector. Saying that they were working to restrict the impact of climate change on the farm sector, the Prime Minister said they had a slogan of ‘back to basics’ and ‘march to the future’. He said that the fusion of these two words will dictate the future of the farming sector in India.
Stating that 170 districts in the country were prone to drought, Modi said that the country had 50 diverse agro-climatic zones. He said that India has vowed to make net-zero emissions by 2070 to restrict the impact of climate change.
Modi said that they have also given importance to natural farming, digital agriculture in this year’s budget. Stating that they were aiming to empower the farmers through digital agriculture, Modi said that they were working closely with private players in the sector to empower the farmers on various things.
He said that they have focused on higher agriculture inclusive growth with various efforts. While India had come up with the largest food security plan, the Prime Minister said that they were planning to come up with a Nutrition Security plan with bio-fortified varieties.
Governor Tamilasai Soundarajan, union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy, Director General of ICRISAT Dr Jacqueline d’Arros Hughes and others were present.
Also Read: PM Modi says ‘India commits to Net-Zero emission by 2070’
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