Focus on use of digital technology in Agriculture: PM Modi

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE), said that India, which was once a concern for global food and nutrition security, is now providing solutions. He mentioned that the government is strengthening the agriculture sector with reforms and measures aimed at improving the lives of farmers.

While talking about integrating technology into the agriculture sector, PM Modi mentioned, “India is using digital technology in the agriculture sector and under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, funds are transferred into the bank accounts of ten crore farmers with one click.”

The Prime Minister also touched upon a huge campaign for the digitization of land, which was also mentioned in the Budget 2024, where farmers will be given a digital identification number for their land to track the land records.

The government is also promoting the use of drones in farming, where Drone Didis will be trained to operate drones under the Centre’s NAMO Drone Didi Scheme. PM Modi further added that these steps will not only benefit the farmers of India but also strengthen global food security.

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Addressing the conference, which was held after 65 years in New Delhi today, PM Modi said, “India is promoting chemical-free natural farming.” He said that, in the Union Budget 2024-25, there is a big focus on sustainable agriculture. The government has provided 1,900 new climate-resilient varieties of crops in the last ten years.

“The last time the ICAE was held in India, the country had recently gained its independence, and its food security and agriculture were major global concerns. However, India is now a food-surplus country and is working to provide solutions to global food and nutrition security. It is currently the largest producer of millets, milk, pulses, and spices,” he added.

Around one thousand delegates from 75 countries are taking part in the International Conference of Agricultural Economists. The theme for this year’s conference is “Transformation Towards Sustainable Agri-Food Systems.” The conference aims to tackle the pressing need for sustainable agriculture in the face of global challenges such as climate change, natural resource degradation, rising production costs, and conflicts.