He said if at least 500 villages could be made 'less cash' per year as part of realising the dream of 'digital villages', it will create a "chain reaction" spreading to thousands of villages.
The prime minister also emphasised the need for focussing on growth of livestock sector and said skill training should be provided to womenfolk, who play a crucial role in this area.
Underlining the importance of empowering the farmers in the villages, Modi said it was essential for the balanced development of the country.
"For the development of the nation, prosperity of farmers is essential. ....The 'anna datas' of the nation should be free from worries," he said.
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"Without an empowered farmer, the dream of 'New India' will remain unfulfilled," he said addressing the Golden Jubilee and Foundation Day celebrations of Pune-based Bharatiya Agro Industries Foundation via video conferencing.
Talking about the concept of digital villages, he said the government is connecting all Panchayats through optical fibre.
"Through the use of technology, the dream of digital village can be realised, such a village where most of the transactions would be done digitally, all forms can be filled online, studies in schools can be conducted digitally and health services could also be linked to digital technology," he said.
"Can we take a pledge that each year, at least 500 villages would be converted into 'less cash'? If 500 villages are made 'less cash', thousands of adjoining villages will also adopt the sytems. Through a chain reaction, this will spread from one village to another," the prime minister said.
Noting that the government is working towards doubling farmers' income by 2022, he said. "The focus of all agri- policies has been shifted from production-centric to income- centric."
The government is with the farmers, right from sowing till marketing of agri-products, he added.
Highlighting steps taken in the agri-sector, Modi said the government is encouraging organic farming and crop diversification while it has distributed over 9 crore soil health cards and linked over 500 mandis with e-NAM (electronic national agricutlure market).
Among other initiatives, he said crop risk of farmers is being insured under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and cheaper crop loans are being provided to save them from private money lenders.
"The government's effort is to reduce the input cost of farmers and increase their income. When farmers are free from worries, the country will make progress," Modi said.
The cost of agri-production is coming down due to the government policies, he added.
Referring to the livestock sector, Modi said Rs 40,000 crore are lost due to animal diseases and suggested organising more livestock health camps to address the problem.
In this context, he said women self help groups (SHGs) should be given training in veterinary science and animal feed, who in turn could train the village women for further growth of the sector.
He also talked about huge potential not only in organic farming but also medicinal and aromatic plants amid rise in global demand.
Observing that agriculture is not about growing wheat and rice, the prime minister said, "People know about Green and White Revolutions. The need of the hour is Blue Revolution to transform the lives of fisheries and Sweet Revolution to boost additional income from beekeeping."
Regarding the problems faced by the farmers in several parts of the country including Vidarbha in Maharashtra, Modi said the government is trying to address these through the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana.
"Out of 99 pending irrigation projects, we have completed 21," he said, adding the government is spending 60 per cent of MNREGA funds on water conservation.
"Encourage farmers towards sub-sectors of the agriculture to boost their income," Modi said and suggested recyling of the agri-waste, compost manufacturing and generation of solar energy could be other options for farmers to earn additional income.
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