"The nation is falling behind in agriculture. If 'Khedut Putra' (son of farmer), Sardar Patel had become the first Prime Minister, this would not have happened to our farmers... Somehow, we took the wrong way," Modi said addressing a gathering of farmers at Krishi Mahotsav in Bharuch.
Expressing the need to strengthen agriculture, Modi said India was fast losing its identity as an agricultural nation.
Modi said the need of the hour was to adopt modern technology in increasing the land under cultivation to reverse the scenario of decline in agri growth.
"How to integrate technology into farming...That is the need of the hour. Land is not going to increase. What we have to do is (to) increase productivity to cultivate more," he said.
The Chief Minister claimed that it was a "historic feat" that Gujarat clocked a double digit (over 10 per cent) growth in agriculture, which is three times that of national average.
"Agriculture was never associated with Gujarat. We were drought-prone state. Whenever talk of agriculture comes then Punjab, Haryana and Ganga belt are at forefront," he said.