KOCHI: The seven-point development plan of the Union government, aimed at doubling farmers’ income by 2022 among other things, suggests online trading to avoid loss of benefits owing to involvement of middlemen.
The plan, devised under the Centre’s New India Movement, was explained to farmers from the district at a function held at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) here on Thursday.
The development plan urges farmers to utilise the e-NAM (National Agriculture Market) scheme of the Union government to trade farm produce for better price realisation. As many as 455 trading centres have been interlinked with the scheme to make it a unified national market for agricultural commodities.
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To enhance farmers’ income, the plan also proposes the use of the latest mobile and internet services such as Kisan Suvidha App developed by the Centre to know weather conditions, market prices, and to get other advisories, according to a press release.
Under the plan, farmers can derive full benefits from the institutional loan scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to minimise risk and to get comprehensive relief from crop losses due to natural calamities.
It also suggests enhancing production through improved seed, planting materials, and organic farming. In addition, it has been proposed that allied activities like dairy development, poultry, bee-keeping, fisheries, agro-forestry, and integrated farming system be strengthened by utilising various government schemes. The development plan proposes to implement the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), as the scheme ensures water conservation and maintenance of soil health for better crops.
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Pravin Puthra, Additional Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, explained the plan to the farmers. CMFRI Director A. Gopalakrishnan presided over the function.
Interaction
During the farmer-scientist interface held on the occasion, farmers raised questions about organic vegetable farming, dairying, egg and meat production, fish farming, soil management, organic fertilisers, and value-addition. Experts from CMFRI, Kerala Agricultural University, and Krishi Vigyan Kendra answered farmers’ questions. Around 200 farmers attended the programme.