He emphasised taking technology like micro-irrigation to the maximum number of farmers while saving water
Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare inaugurated the Summit on Farm Machinery Technology, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Tractor and Mechanisation Association (TMA). Tomar said that there are about 85 per cent of small farmers in the country, who should get the benefit of technology & machinery. An amount of Rs.6120.85 crore has been released to the states from 2014-15 to 2022-23 for various activities like training, testing, setting up of CHCs, hi-tech hubs and Farm Machinery Banks (FMBs) under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM). Besides 15.24 lakh farm machinery and equipment have been distributed at subsidised rates through state governments, including tractors, power tillers and automated machinery.
Tomar said that agriculture is a priority of the country and no one could destroy the fabric of our agriculture-based rural economy even in adverse circumstances. In terms of agricultural products, India stands at Number One or Second rank in the world today, which is a result of the hard work of the farmers, the contribution of scientists and industry, and the farmer-friendly policies of the government with the support of technology.
Farmers’ access to the market has also been increased through e-NAM mandis and the gaps in the agriculture sector are being filled up, for which more than Rs 1.5 lakh crore packages have been earmarked for Agriculture and Allied sectors. He emphasised on taking technology like micro-irrigation to the maximum number of farmers while saving water.