IndiaCSR News Network
NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has called for increasing food-grain productivity from 2 tons per hectare to 3 tons per hectare. Addressing a gathering of farmers at New Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan on the occasion of the launch of DD Kisan, Doordarshan’s channel dedicated exclusively to farmers, the Prime Minister also called for making the ‘Tehsil’ the unit of agricultural planning and development.
The Prime Minister said that if the country has to move forward, villages must progress, and if villages are to progress, then it is essential for agriculture to progress. He said there was a time when agriculture was the most preferred of professions, but over a period of time, its attractiveness had declined to rock bottom. He added that with the right incentives and actions, this trend could be completely reversed.
The Prime Minister said the DD Kisan channel should keep an eye and inform farmers about the changes in weather, global markets etc., so that farmers can plan ahead and take the right decisions well in time.
The Prime Minister called for re-engaging rural youth with agriculture in a big way. He said DD Kisan channel can also highlight the efforts of progressive farmers, so that their innovations can be replicated across the country.
The Prime Minister called for farmers to adopt a three-pronged approach to agriculture, which balanced farming, animal husbandry and tree plantation.
Speaking on the occasion of the launch of DD Kisan channel, the Minister for Agriculture, Shri Radhamohan Singh said that it is a golden moment for the farmers as the channel will help in taking new research technologies from ‘Lab to the Land’ Kisan Channel would facilitate the farmers in providing information regarding the policy initiatives undertaken in the Agriculture sector.
Speaking on the occasion Minister of State for I&B, Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore said that it was Prime Minister’s vision which had inspired the launch of the Kisan channel. The platform would enable the benefits of technology accruing to the farmers. He further mentioned that this channel would inform, educate and update the farmers with the latest developments in the area of farming on a 24×7 basis. Shri Rathore said that it was the first such initiative of a Public Broadcaster to start a 24 hour channel exclusively dedicated to the farmers.
Prasar Bharti Chairman, Dr. Surya Prakash in his closing remarks stated that the non-Hindi speaking farming community would also be benefitted by the launch of Kisan channel as the various programmes would also be available in other regional languages.
The 24×7 Kisan Channel will telecast updated information on agriculture and related subject for the benefit of its target audience including cattle rearers, bee keepers, poultry owners, mechanics and craftsmen. This would include information broadcast on the changing weather condition well in advance, and the low cost measures to protect crops / enhance produce during such conditions.
Advice of IMD Scientists and Agricultural Scientists would be broadcast periodically for the farmers so that they may know about the crop diseases, ways to protect crops from various diseases and on how to increase the crop yield. The Channel will give information on newer ways of agricultural practices being followed world over and the R&D in the agri sector across the world. The Channel has tie up with IMD, IARI, Agricultural Universities, Krish Vigyan Kendras etc.
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