From Food Security to Farmer Prosperity: VP Jagdeep Dhankhar's Vision for India's Agricultural Future

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has requested a revolutionary change in India's agriculture policy, requesting the country to shift away from food security towards farmer prosperity. Delivering an address at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) in Coimbatore, he highlighted the role of innovation, entrepreneurship, and education to equip farmers and boost their economic standards. A holistic overview is given below:

 

Key Highlights

 

India's Agricultural Evolution:

 

India has come a long way from being an importer of foodgrains to being a world exporter, and agricultural commodities account for more than 11% of overall exports.

 

VP Dhankhar emphasized that now it should be focused on economically uplifting farmers, beyond ensuring food availability.

 

Role of Academic Institutions:

 

Academics such as TNAU were recognized for the contribution of institutions in connecting research and field practices.

 

The Vice President complimented Dr. M.S. Swaminathan's work and called upon academic institutions to promote innovation and agri-entrepreneurship.

 

Empowering Farmers:

 

Farmers need to transform from producers to value-adders using technology and market connections to achieve maximum returns.

 

Dhankhar highlighted Krishi Vigyan Kendras' role in training farmers and promoting agricultural startups.

 

Economic Contribution:

 

Agriculture is also poised to assume a central role as India targets being a $30 trillion economy by 2047.

 

The Vice President emphasized curriculum modifications in agricultural studies to motivate farmers and their kin to pursue agribusiness opportunities.

 

Call for Cooperation:

 

Research and innovation must focus on the needs of farmers, supported by a joint endeavor from the academic, industry, and government domains.

 

Dhankhar called upon stakeholders to emphasize holistic growth by writing a new chapter in India's agrarian history.

 

Sources: The Tribune, Economic Times