Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar visits the International Trade Fair on Millets and Organic Products, in Bengaluru

Union minister - Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is very sensitive towards the small farmers of the country. Modi, with foresight, raised the issue of Millets in the United Nations, where the resolution of the Government of India was adopted with the support of 72 countries and as per the United Nations declaration, the year 2023 is now being celebrated under the leadership of India as the International Year of Millets. Behind this, the main objective of the government is to increase the production and productivity, processing, and exports of millets, which will ultimately help the farmers of the country."

Tomar said this in Bengaluru as the chief guest at the closing ceremony of the International Trade Fair on Millets and Organic Products. Tomar said, "Millet crops can be grown in less water. Millets also help in increasing the income of farmers. With the increase in the production and consumption of millet in the country, its export will also increase, which will benefit a large number of farmers." He lauded the efforts of the Karnataka Government to increase the production and consumption of millets and termed the signing of MoUs worth Rs. 201 crore rupees as an important milestone. He also praised the incentives provided to the farmers of the state.

Tomar said, " The Center and the State Governments are running many important schemes for the welfare of the farmers, including increasing their income. Farmers are being given an annual income aid of Rs. 6,000 through the prime minister Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) Scheme. Besides, farmers in Karnataka are being given additional annual income support of Rs. 4,000 each. Intending to increase the potential of the majority of small farmers, prime minister Modi has initiated the setting up of 10,000 new Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in the country, on which the Government of India is spending Rs. 6,865 crores". He appreciated the enthusiastic contribution to the formation of new FPOs across the country as well as in Karnataka. Tomar said that many programs have been launched by the Center to make agriculture advanced and the farmers prosperous.

On the occasion, Tomar gave away awards in various categories. The union minister - State for Chemicals and Fertilizers and New and Renewable Energy, Bhagwanth Khuba, agriculture minister - Uttar Pradesh, Surya Pratap Singh Shahi; and state horticulture minister Dinesh Pratap Singh, besides agriculture minister, Karnataka, B.C. Patil was present at the function.