Gujarat has taken historic initiative to link agriculture sector of the nation by organizing the first ever agriculture summit for the country

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Credit for the success of this summit goes to the strength of India’s farmers

Addressing the valedictory session of the first ever Vibrant Gujarat Global Agriculture Summit – 2013 at Mahatma Mandir of Gandhinagar, Gujarat chief minister Mr. Narendra Modi said, “With the successful completion of this global summit Gujarat has made humble yet historical attempt to link entire country’s agriculture sector.” Mr. Modi called for different linkages for the larger benefit of the agriculture sector i.e. creating interlinking of river water grid, agro market linkages, agro-tech lab to land linkages and gave the formula of creating ago-credit linkages.

Mr. Modi said, “The first ever summit for agriculture sector has received unique success which saw large participation of farmers.” After a very comprehensive selection process, Gujarat government felicitated 445 progressive farmers who had come from all across the country to take part in this summit. Also on this occasion a mega exhibition was held by Agritech Asia which showcased variety of research and innovation in the farming sector. The exhibition saw large number farmer visitors from across the nation.

Praising the deliberations and exchange of ideas that took place during seminars between the farmers from entire country irrespective of language bar, Mr. Modi said, “This has shown how close the farming and agriculture is to the farmers. Today it occurred to me that it would have been a great service to the country’s farmers had it been organized four five year ago.” Gujarat government has made an effort to link the agriculture sector in India and offered Rs 51000 as an award of commendation for their hard work and sheer dedication for the field of agriculture, said Mr. Modi.

Advocating water management and securing river waters for farmers instead letting it flow as waste into sea, Mr. Modi said first such effort was made during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure to coined this idea of creating river water grid linkages. Gujarat has already started experimenting with it and has been able to link around 20 rivers. Creating river water linkages will have sizeable positive impact on the input cost incurred by farmers.” Mr. Modi said it is high time that present Centre government give a serious thought on this. He said water waste from urban areas can be treated and further made available to the farmers and strike a balance for the water management.

Mr. Modi said youth are also interested in farming and could see it as a permanent and profitable vocation but they need to be given encouragement.

Also Mr. Modi advocated for focusing on agriculture with three sub-sections and diversification of the risk. This will give a boost to overall development prospects of this sector. These areas could be subdivided into farmers focusing on traditional farming, dairy-animal husbandry-fisheries and poultry, and agro forestry to cultivate trees which have high value in timber markets.

Gujarat chief minister Mr. Modi said it is high time that farmers do not waste single inch of land available to them for cultivation. He said, “Portion of land going waste between two farms could be used for agro forestry and this will create an economic return cycle for them.” Also sea weed farming could give a major boost to those living on the coastal belt of the nation.

Chief Minister proposed creation of all-round market linkages. He said, “In entire nation, farmer is the only manufacture who does not have right to decide the selling price of his produce. And creation of market linkage using latest technologies will provide major boost to the sector.”

Emphasizing the need to link laboratories and farm lands, Mr. Modi said, “It will be very fulfilling if agriculture scientists and their research knowledge is able to reach the actual farmland, and in turn bring more benefits to the farmers.” He said Gujarat has already taken an initiative to bring so many new things to its farmers by organizing Krushi Mahotsav in the state.

Mr. Modi said, “Agriculture credit linkage is required to empower the farmers and rescue them from being exploited by the moneylenders. Today only 5% of the total lending by banks goes to the farmers as agricultural loans. However farmers are not able to get rid of their debts.”

Chief Minister Mr. Modi announced that his government will publish all the success stories of the farmers on its website to give their innovation wider reach and encourage more fruitful experiments in the field. Also Mr. Modi demanded that central government make necessary attempts to encourage more unique farm researches in the country.

Mr. Modi said, “If we increase agricultural produce by two fold, we will be able to feed entire India and if we make it three fold, we will feed entire World. Farmers of India are quite capable of doing it and I have confidence in them.”

Referring to Mahatma Gandhiji’s dream of Swaraj, chief minister said, “Swaraj will only be achieved if villages of India are made prosperous and to make villages prosperous we need to bring prosperity in agriculture. For this we have to set our agriculture policies in right frame and direction.”

Other dignitaries who graced the valedictory session include Mr. Anders Adamisen, counselor food and agriculture, Bolivia ambassador to India Mr. Jorge Cardenas Robles, representatives of Madagascar Embassy, Gambia High Commission and Malawi ambassador to India Dr. Perks Ligoya, parliamentary secretary of Nagaland Agriculture Board, additional secretary Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture Mr. Ashish Bahuguna and Mr. Ayappa, members of state ministry, Mr. Varesh Sinha – Chief Secretary and others officials.