Prahlad Patel.

Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Prahlad Singh Patel said that the Center has taken several steps for the development of agriculture sector and increasing the income of farmers.

He said that about Rs 6.22 lakh crore has been allocated in the budget for the agriculture sector during 2014-22.

He told about several steps taken by the Narendra Modi government in the interest of the farmers.

According to the statement released by the ministry, Patel said that the agriculture budget during the period 2006-14 was Rs 1,48,162.16 crore, while the budget allocation for the agriculture sector during 2014-22 stood at Rs 6,21,940.92 crore.

He said that under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme, the Center has provided an amount of Rs 2.16 lakh crore directly into the bank accounts of eligible farmers.

The Center provides Rs 6,000 per annum in three equal installments under this scheme.

Patel said that reports released by various institutions clearly show that the total inflation-adjusted income of farmers has doubled, or nearly doubled, in many states.

The minister said that the Prime Minister has empowered the farmers by giving them modern digital technology.

He said that apart from getting rid of the problem of corruption and middlemen through digital technology, farmers have also been saved from many kinds of problems.

The minister said, "The assistance given by the government to the farmers through digital technology has now started reaching them directly, which has given them new opportunities to do business...."

He said that 'From Seed to Market' and 'Digital Agriculture Mission' have played an important role in bringing changes in the living standards and conditions of the farmers.

Elaborating on other major schemes, Patel said that more than 1.74 crore farmers across the country have been linked to the e-NAM portal and 2.36 lakh businesses have been registered through e-NAM.

A business of Rs 2.22 lakh crore has been done on this.

The minister said claims worth Rs 1.25 lakh crore have been paid under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, while Rs 25,185 crore has been given to farmers as insurance premium.

Patel said that so far more than 3,855 FPOs (Farmer Producer Organizations) have been registered, while 22.71 crore soil health cards have been issued and 11,531 testing laboratories have been approved.

He said that the allocation of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana in the previous government was Rs 6,057 crore, while the Modi government has increased it by about 136 percent to Rs 15,511 crore.

Under the Micro Irrigation Fund, projects worth Rs 4,710.96 crore have been approved covering an area of ​​17.09 lakh hectares.

Patel said that the agriculture credit flow during the previous government was Rs 7.3 lakh crore and the Modi government has increased the target to Rs 18.5 lakh crore for the year 2022-23.

The minister said the government has also increased fertilizer subsidy to ensure that farmers get soil nutrients at affordable prices.

Patel said that India ranks first or second in terms of agricultural produce in the world and a record export of agricultural products worth Rs 3.75 lakh crore has been made.

He said that earlier only 100 startups were working in the agriculture sector, but in the last 7-8 years this number has increased to more than 4,000.

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