PM Modi has set target to double farmers' income by 2022: Agriculture Minister

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set the target to double farmers' income in the country by 2022, Union Agriculture Minister Radhamohan Singh said on Friday.

He said a target of bringing 585 mandis (agriculture markets) on electronic platform by 2018 has been set up by his ministry.

"With an aim to give boost to the agriculture sector, the government has enhanced agri budget from Rs 15,809 crore to Rs 35,984 crore which is more than double. Besides, the government has also set a target to double the farmers' income by 2022," the minister told reporters.

He said the government has propagated the concept of "Ek Rashtra-Ek Mandi" ('One nation, one agri market') and had launched the "e-mandi pilot project" in the country.

Singh said the NDA government has set up two new Central Agriculture Universities, 14 new agriculture colleges and an Agriculture Research Centre so far.

Referring to the Congress-led UPA rule, he said the previous dispensation "shamed" the nation by getting involved in one scam after another, because of which country suffered losses in crores.

"In contrast, the Modi government allocated coal blocks with full transparency, which has improved the state exchequer," he said.

Singh claimed the country has witnessed a "satisfactory change" during two years of Modi government in office.

Earlier, the minister felicitated those citizens who had voluntarily given up subsidy on LPG connections.

Union Minister of State for Urban Development, Babul Supriyo and the State's Public Relations Minister, Rajendra Shukla were present on the occasion among others.