Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the immense strength of Jammu and Kashmir’s youth during his recent interaction with progressive farmers in New Delhi. The Prime Minister’s remarks came on the heels of the introduction of train services that significantly boost trade movement within the Valley. This development marks a new chapter for goods transport as it directly connects New Delhi to Kashmir.
The Prime Minister spoke at the launch of the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, a comprehensive ₹24,000 crore initiative focused on enhancing agricultural productivity and promoting sustainable farming practices across 100 selected districts. This scheme aims to address the evolving challenges of modern agriculture.
Fayaz Ahmad Ganaie, a farmer from Ganderbal, shared his success story at the event, reflecting the positive impact of government initiatives. “I’ve come from Kashmir. I saw your progressive schemes for farmers and availed their benefits. Today, I have 14 employees and earn around ₹15 lakh in profits annually,” Ganaie stated, attributing his growth to the Modi government’s support.
Connecting directly with farmers, PM Modi acknowledged Ganaie’s achievements. He reaffirmed, “The youth of Jammu and Kashmir have immense strength. Now with the train services, goods have been moving fast from the Kashmir Valley.”
This enhancement in infrastructure enables the transport of key agricultural products such as apples and other fruits, facilitating direct trade from Srinagar for the first time.
During the event, PM Modi encouraged farmers to embrace natural farming. He suggested they experiment with small plots of land to cultivate confidence in sustainable practices. Several farmers recounted their success stories with innovative agricultural techniques following previous interactions with Modi.
A female farmer also hailed the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, describing the ₹6,000 annual support as “a blessing” that provided essential financial assistance for buying seeds and timely land preparation. Farmers displayed innovations including aeroponically-grown “Jain potato” and value-added garlic products, showcasing the breadth of creativity within India’s agricultural sector.
In highlighting India’s agricultural achievements, PM Modi pointed out significant statistics: agricultural exports have nearly doubled over the past eleven years; food grain production has risen by 90 million metric tonnes; and fruit and vegetable output has increased by 64 million metric tonnes. India now leads in milk production and ranks second globally in fish production, with honey production doubling since 2014.
Furthermore, over 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) have emerged, fostering cooperation and increasing market access for farmers. These organizations symbolize the government’s commitment to empowering agricultural communities.
PM Modi clarified that the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana draws inspiration from the successful Aspirational Districts Model. His vision focuses on harnessing innovation and technology to empower every farmer while advocating for inclusive growth across all sectors of agriculture.