New Delhi, March 06: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called for scaling up export-oriented agriculture to help India integrate more effectively with global supply chains, saying the move would create new employment opportunities while strengthening farmer incomes.
Addressing a post-Budget webinar on “Agriculture and Rural Transformation”, the Prime Minister said agriculture remains a key pillar of India’s economy and stressed the need to align the sector with evolving global demand patterns.
Modi highlighted the importance of crop diversification, export-focused farming and the adoption of new-age technologies to boost productivity and global competitiveness. He said stakeholders across agriculture, industry and research must work together to develop high-value agriculture and enhance quality and branding standards for Indian produce.
The Prime Minister also emphasised the role of organic and natural farming in promoting holistic healthcare and sustainable agriculture. He noted that fisheries have the potential to emerge as a major export-driven sector, calling for new business models to boost rural prosperity and promote high-value crops.
To unlock the potential of premium agricultural products, Modi identified crops such as cashew, coconut, sandalwood, agarwood, almonds, walnuts and pine nuts as key opportunities for farmers. He also encouraged greater private sector participation in animal husbandry and coastal fisheries value chains.
