Prime Minister

31 March 2015

My Dear Farmer Brothers and Sisters

India is a country of farmers. As a nation, our roots lie in our villages and farms, which have been providing sustenance to our people for generations. Our festivals, fairs and functions are all based on our agricultural heritage and background. You are our Annadaata, for which we are eternally grateful and indebted to you.

Yet, too often your endless toil is under-rewarded; on account of low productivity, weak market linkages or exploitative middle men. Too often your access to the basic needs of water, electricity and credit is unreliable and unsatisfactory. Too often you are left vulnerable to the vagaries of nature.

This must change. As a nation, we have to ensure an enabling environment where you can build a life of comfort and dignity. Thus, your well-being is a priority for my government and your interests are non-negotiable. We have thus come up with a number of initiatives to empower you and improve your lives. Several schemes have been rolled out over the past year, while many more have been announced in this year’s  budget

Agriculture

Irrigation is the key to your farms. Thus, with the motto of Har Khet Ko Paani, we are starting the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana to get water to all your farms, emphasizing particularly on latest technologies so at you get Per Drop, More Crop. Electricity is the other critical need,whose lack you often suffer from. With the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gramjyoti Yojana we are helping State governments electrify all rural areas, such that you get adequate power in your fields as well as 24x7 power in your homes. To ensure you have convenient access to loans for further enabling your efforts, the farm credit target has been raised to Rs 8,50,000 crore.

Beyond these basic needs, we have structured a number of initiatives to increase your production as well as productivity, by empowering you with best practices and latest technologies. The Soil Health Card program gives each and every one of you a report card of your fields detailing its health and needs. This will enable you to improve your productivity by helping you use fertilizers efficiently, plan your cropping cycles and so on. Kisan TV, a 24x7 TV channel dedicated to you and your needs has been launched. This will provide a wide spectrum of activities from giving real-time weather updates and latest agri-mandi data, to sharing success stories and interacting with experts. Then there is the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, designed particularly for those of you living in hilly areas. This aims to facilitate and promote organic farming, such that you can reap the dividends of higher returns and sustainable practices.

Special effort is also being made to improve the price you get for your produce. We have set up a Price stabilization fund to provide support in case the prices fall sharply. We are also actively working with States towards creating a National Agriculture Market removing  all middlemen.

A slew of measures were taken to help you minimize the effect of deficient rain during last years kharif season- from diesel subsidy and 50% increase in seed subsidy, to additional assistance for horticulture crops and fodder development. This years unseasonal rains have caused damage to crops in some States. Committed to standing behind you inyour hour of need, we are in touch with State Governments to give you support

Rural infrastructure is being given particular emphasis. The Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana will see that you have a good road togotothehaat. Yourvillageswill get schools and medical facilities, just like urban areas

Individual

lndias family structure is such that we worry more about our families than ourselves. Farming has its risks. We have thus set up mechanisms to assist you in securing your family•s well-being in case anything happens to you. The Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana provides you an accident insurance of Rs 21akhs at a mere Rs 1 per month premium. The Pradhan Mantrijeevanjyoti Bima Yojana a life insurance of Rs 21akhs at Rs1 per day premium