The move comes as part of the Centre's efforts to accelerate growth amid concerns over GDP's slowdown
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday unveiled a roadmap to boost rural economy and keep his government's commitment to double farmers' income by 2022. The move comes as part of the Centre's efforts to accelerate growth amid concerns over GDP's slowdown.
The PM asked cooperatives to venture into new business areas like beekeeping and seaweed farming to help peasants increase their income. Speaking at the birth centenary function of noted cooperative leader Lakshman Madhavrao Inamdar, the PM called for a new strategy to evolve 'procurement and sale' methodologies. He also stressed on a new cooperative movement by involving women.
"See what best practices to adopt and give up the old ones and move ahead," he said, while asserting that rural India should not be left behind in India's growth story.
He admitted that farmers were facing many problems, and said there is a need to establish a system to ensure they buy and sell at wholesale rates. "Today, farmers buy at retail rates and sell (their produce) at wholesale rates. Can it be reversed?. If they buy (inputs) at wholesale rates and sell at retail prices, then nobody can loot them, not even middlemen," he said.
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said on Wednesday that the government has taken note of all economic indicators, and will make all additional moves that are needed to propel growth.
He said he has held a series of discussions with his colleagues, secretaries and experts within the government, and that additional steps will be announced after consulting PM Modi.
Farmers associated with dairy cooperatives have grown as they buy and sell milk at wholesale rates, Modi said, adding that they would not have earned more had they sold their produce to private firms.
There is a need to build such cooperatives to ensure better income to farmers, he added. Observing that cooperatives are mainly present in sugar and dairy sectors, the PM said they need to foray into new areas.
He said there is a demand for neem oil for coating of urea fertiliser, and women farmers can collect key basic ingredients required to make the oil.
Another area is beekeeping, where farmers can bring 'Sweet Revolution' through cooperatives. It is not only honey but there is a big market for beewax worldover, he said. Even in the fishery sector, additional work can be provided to fishermen during off-season by encouraging them to go for seaweed farming.
Modi said there is huge demand for seaweed in pharma industry, and its juice can be used to boost soil health. "Cooperatives can bring change in rural economy through small initiatives like this," he noted.
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 "Prime Minister Narendra Modi")
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