Agriculture sector has freed itself from shackles, strong farmers will lay foundation of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat': PM Modi

New Delhi: Farmers and the farm sector needs to be strong to lay a strong foundation of "Atmanirbhar Bharat", said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.

Speaking at the 69th edition of the 'Mann Ki Baat' programme, the Prime Minister said that the country's agriculture sector has recently unshackled itself, in a reference to the agriculture reform Bills passed recently by the Parliament.

"One who is grounded stays firm even during the biggest storms. During these tough times of corona, our farm sector, our farmers are a living example of this. Even during this crisis, our agricultural sector has again shown its prowess. Our farmers, farm sector, villages, are the foundation of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'. If they are strong, the foundation of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' will be strong," Prime Minister Modi said.

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"In recent times, these sectors have freed themselves from many shackles, attempts were made to bust many myths," he added.

The Prime Minister said that he has received letters from many farmers, and their organisations, which reveal the changes made in the agriculture sector in recent times.

Taking the example of a farmer from Haryana, Kanwar Chauhan from Sonipat district, the Prime Minister said, "He (Chauhan) recalled the problems he faced in selling produce outside the mandis. Many times, if he would sell his produce outside the mandis his vehicle, along with produce would be seized. But in 2014, fruits and vegetables were brought out of the APMC Act. He and his fellow farmers benefitted hugely from this."

Chauhan, then set up a farmers' produce organisation four years ago, Prime Minister Modi said.

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"Today farmers of his village are growing sweetcorn and baby corn. Their produce is directly being sold at Delhi's Azadpur Mandi, five-star hotels, and in big retail chains. Today the farmers of the village are earning Rs 2.5-3 lakhs per acre by farming sweet and baby corn. Apart from this, 60 farmers from the same village are also earning up to Rs 10-12 lakhs per annum by growing varieties of tomato, capsicum, using net house, and poly house," the Prime Minister added.

"They have the power to sell their fruits or vegetables to anyone, and anywhere. It is this power which is the foundation of their growth, now the same power has been given to farmers across the country. They have got the freedom to sell not only fruits and vegetables but grains, sugarcane, mustard and anything that they grow, they can now sell to anyone and anywhere they like," he said.

• #Prime Minister
• #Narendra Modi
• #Atmanirbhar Bharat
• #farmers
• #farm sector
• #National
• #bjp