New Delhi: During this, he said, I am happy that after 65 years this conference of ICAE is being held in India again. You have come to India from different countries of the world. You are welcome on behalf of 120 million farmers of India. You are welcome on behalf of more than 30 million women farmers of India. You are welcome on behalf of 30 million fishermen of the country. You are welcome on behalf of 80 million animal keepers of the country. Today you are in a country where there are 550 million animals. Welcome to animal lover India, congratulations.
PM Modi said that as ancient as India is, so ancient are our beliefs and experiences about agriculture and food. Science and logic have been given priority in the Indian agricultural tradition. There is a complete science of Ayurveda to use our food with medicinal effects. This traditional knowledge system is a part of Indian social life. The last time the ICAE conference was held here, India had just gained independence. That was a time full of challenges regarding India’s food security… India’s agriculture. Today India is a food surplus country. Today India is the largest producer of milk, pulses and spices.
‘India is giving the world the solution to global nutrition security’
PM Modi said, while recalling the first event of ICAE, that there was a time when India’s food security was a matter of concern for the world, and today is the time when India is engaged in providing solutions to global food security, global nutrition security. Today there is so much concern about food and nutrition all over the world, but thousands of years ago it was said in our scriptures that food is supreme among all the elements, so food is considered the basis of all medicines. Our Ayurvedic science has a complete understanding of the use of food with medicinal properties. This traditional knowledge system is a part of India’s social life. As ancient as India is, its beliefs and experiences related to agriculture and food grains are also as ancient. Science and logic have been given priority in the Indian agricultural tradition.
,Small farmers are the biggest strength of India’s food security
Agriculture is the centre of our economic policy. About 90% of our families have very little land, these small farmers are the biggest strength of India’s food security. The same situation exists in many developing countries of Asia, so India’s model can be used in many countries. India is the world’s largest producer of millets. The world calls them superfood and we have given them the identity of food grains. They work on the principle of ‘minimum water, maximum production’.
‘Continuously bringing digital infrastructure for farmers’
India’s various super foods can play a vital role in ending the problem of global nutrition. India wants to share this basket of its super foods with the world. We are building digital public infrastructure for digital crop surveys. Our farmers will receive real-time information, enabling them to make data-driven decisions. Our initiatives will benefit crores of farmers, improving their economic condition. In India, we are making extensive use of digital technology in agriculture. Through PM Kisan, we can transfer funds to the bank accounts of 10 crore farmers with just one click, and this amount is transferred within 30 seconds. I hope that through this conference, we will find ways to connect the world to a sustainable agri-food system, learn from each other and teach each other.
Mentioning Sardar Patel, he gave this advice to all the guests
I don’t know if there is a statue of a farmer in the world. We have heard about the Statue of Liberty, the world’s tallest statue, but in India we have the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who awakened the power of farmers, brought farmers into the mainstream of the freedom movement. Notably, the height of Patel’s statue is twice the height of the Statue of Liberty. You must see this amazing wonder, the world’s tallest statue.