A farmers' fair heard calls for smarter agriculture, crop diversification and allied activities. The approach aims to empower farmers and create multiple sources of income.PM Modi addressing India Today Group’s Kisan Tak Bharat Agriculture Conference .

India's goal of becoming a developed nation cannot be achieved without modernising agriculture and empowering farmers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the India Today Group’s Kisan Tak Bharat Agriculture Conference on Thursday.Highlighting the sector's growth and its contribution to reducing rural poverty, the PM stressing the need to diversify beyond traditional crops, Modi cited India's rising agricultural exports and growth in dairy, fisheries and horticulture, while calling for multiple sources of income for farmers through allied activities and renewable energy.'Viksit Bharat impossible without developing agriculture and empowering farmers'"I had spoken about the seven streams of strength for a Viksit Bharat from the Red Fort, and agriculture is one of the most important among them. Building a developed India is simply impossible without developing agriculture, making farming smarter and empowering farmers.

That is why initiatives focused on farmers and agriculture become so important." '50 crore Indians defeated poverty in just 12-13 years'"A recent World Bank study on poverty, which is being discussed across the world, says that 50 crore poor people in India have defeated poverty in just 12-13 years. It also points out that poverty has declined rapidly in villages.

This means a large number of small farmers and agricultural labourers have overcome poverty." 'Agriculture recorded over 4% growth in the past decade'"Look at the coincidence. During the past decade, India's agricultural growth rate has remained above 4 per cent.

This is the first decade since Independence in which such an average growth rate has been achieved. During this very period, a large number of poor people in villages have also defeated poverty."'India exports agricultural products worth over Rs 4 lakh crore annually'"In the past decade, the country has taken steps to match the pace of these changes, and the results are before us.

Today, India exports agricultural products worth more than Rs 4 lakh crore every year. This money is increasing the income of our farmers."'India is number one in milk, pulses, jute and rice production'"Today, India is number one in milk production in the world.

India is number one in the production of pulses and jute. India has also become number one in rice production.

We are number two in wheat production, cotton, fruits and vegetables, and fish production. India is also the world's largest producer of millets.

These are not just statistics; they demonstrate the immense potential of India's farmers."'Solar power revolution has turned annadatas into urjadatas'"Another revolution is the solar power revolution. This has turned the country's annadatas, or food providers, into urjadatas, or energy providers.

Under the PM-KUSUM scheme, around 12,000 solar pumps have been provided so far. This is reducing farmers' electricity bills, while farmers are also earning money by installing solar plants on their fields and generating electricity."'Drone didis have proved that technology can reach villages'"People with an outdated mindset often believe that sophisticated technology cannot be used in our villages.

The Namo Drone Didis have proved them wrong. I once interacted with the drone didis through a video conference.

A woman from Jharkhand told me that her standing in the village had changed. When I asked her why, she said the entire village now calls her a pilot, and even her family members address her with respect as a pilot.

Just imagine how much this increases her self-respect. These women are using drones to spray fertilisers and pesticides, and the scope of their use is now being expanded."'Government absorbed Rs 43 per litre of diesel price hike to protect farmers'"When the crisis of war in West Asia was intensifying, crude oil prices rose from USD 70 to USD 122 per barrel within just a few weeks.

India was also facing a major challenge. There was a situation in which diesel prices needed to be increased by at least Rs 50 per litre.

But the government decided in the interest of farmers that the entire burden of international market shocks would not be passed on to citizens and farmers. We increased diesel prices by only Rs 7 per litre, even though an increase of Rs 50 was required.

The government absorbed the remaining Rs 43 per litre." 'Some people take the Constitution out of their pockets and think democracy belongs to them'"These days, some people take the Constitution out of their pockets. They think that the country's Constitution and democracy are in their pockets.

Even without being in government, they have a different kind of intoxication with power.'Are we protecting Mother Earth? We must ask ourselves this question'"Farmers are connected to two things: annadata and Mother Earth.

I want to ask my farmer brothers and sisters: Are we protecting our Mother Earth? We must ask ourselves this question with our hands on our hearts.

The way we are destroying Mother Earth through the use of chemicals, we are killing our own mother before our eyes. We are her children."- Ends