· The Union Minister of Agriculture
and Family Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar launched the Project Management
Unit (PMU) on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in Agriculture in New Delhi
today. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Tomar emphasized the need to strengthen
the Agriculture sector as it will help in strengthening other sectors as well.
He further stated that the PPP model can be the ideal model for growth in
Agriculture sector and PPP projects must focus on benefitting the farmers
through enhancement of their income.
· Shri Tomar said that the
empowerment of Agriculture sector is very important for the country and
society. “If the Government alone continues to do all the work, this is not an
ideal situation; better things can be done only with public participation. For
the progress of any sector, the Government can deliver better with the
cooperation of all,” he said.
·
Shri Tomar said that the Prime
Minister Shri Narendra Modi, during his tenure of last eight years, has
simplified the system by scrapping more than 1,500 redundant laws, thereby
making life easy for the common man. “On the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit
Mahotsav and inspired by PM Modi’s ideals, we should think what more can
organizations like the FICCI do in the interest of the country? If the thinking
and attitude will change, then the change will come about. Everyone's aim is
right, but it is necessary for such ideas to be implemented. PPP is the ideal
model which benefits everyone, there is progress in the concerned sector and
overall development of the country takes place,” he said.
·
Shri Tomar said that the Trade
& Industry sector is strong and organized, they have all the means, they
can promote the Agriculture sector. On its part, the Government is undertaking
continuous steps to strengthen the Agriculture sector through various schemes
like the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund worth Rs. One Lakh Crore, setting up
of 10,000 Farmers Producers Organizations (FPO) and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima
scheme. Government is making relentless efforts to create farmers
organizations, empower them, provide new techniques, promote remunerative crops
and improve the quality of the produce at par with the global standards.
“Farmers are encouraged by the Government initiatives and the results are now
evident. It is a matter of satisfaction that PM Modi’s commitment to double the
income of the farmers has reached out to them and organizations like the FICCI
are working hard towards achieving this goal,” he said.
·
Shri Tomar expressed the hope
that everyone will make efforts to achieve growth in the Agriculture sector and
make it more beneficial to the farmers. “If Agriculture is strong, then the
country can withstand even the adverse circumstances,” he said.
·
Speaking on the occasion,
Secretary (A&FW) Shri Manoj Ahuja stated that the Government should play a
catalytic role in facilitating investments in Agriculture sector. Private
sector and NGOs should come together and partner with Govt. on projects in
Agriculture which will have a multiplier effect.
·
Shri Shubrakant Panda, Senior
Vice President, FICCI expressed confidence that the PMU initiative for PPP in
Agriculture launched today will accelerate large scale PPP projects in
Agriculture by leveraging the private sector investments and bring convergence
of Government schemes and subsidies.
·
Additional Secretary (A&FW) Shri
Abhilaksh Likhi and other senior officers of DA&FW and FICCI were present
on the occasion. Representatives from States and Industry joined online.
·
Agriculture investments and
increasing gross capital formation in agriculture are key to modernizing the
Agriculture sector. Combining public investments, in the form of various Central
Government and State Government initiatives in agriculture along with the
Private sector investment, can be a force multiplier for the agriculture
sector. The Government is keen to incentivize PPP initiatives in the
Agriculture sector to improve yields, reduce losses and enhance farmer incomes.
PPP initiatives will crowd in private capital in agriculture, leverage public
investment and align the Central and State Governments, the Private sector, and
farmers in a shared vision of dynamic and value-added growth in the sector. PPP
initiatives will also lead to the convergence of various schemes to benefit
farmers and improve their impact.
·
The primary objective of this PPP
initiative is to enhance the income of small farmers by creating additional
value, - from provisioning of quality inputs, technology extension to market
linkages, and value addition. PPP initiatives are also expected to lead to
modernizing agriculture practices, promoting research in climate resilient
crops, developing agriculture and rural infrastructure, and increasing
agricultural exports. A particular objective is to assist the States to unlock
the full potential of their respective agro-climatic regions, and wide variety
of agri-produce and help producers to integrate better with domestic and export
markets.
·
Against this backdrop, the
Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and FICCI have announced this
joint initiative to develop PPP initiatives in Agriculture.
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