PM pitches for taking farm education to school level
Jhansi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday pitched for taking farm education to middle school level to promote agro-entrepreneurship, saying reforms are being made in National Education Policy, 2020. “Efforts are on to introduce agriculture as a subject in school,” said Modi after the virtual inauguration of college and administration buildings of Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi.
Asserting that efforts are being made to connect farming with modern technology, the PM noted that research institutions and agricultural universities have a vital role to play, repeating a slogan — Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Jai Vigyan.
Reiterating his commitment to development of drought- prone Bundelkhand region, he said, 500 projects of over Rs 10,000 crore have been sanctioned for improving water availability.
“The proposed Ken-Betwa river linking project has the potential to change fortunes of the area and the Centre is in discussion with both Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh on this issue,” he said.“When I visited Jhansi before elections, I promised toilets in every house in the first 5 years and water in the next 5 years. We have been successful in both. In the last two months, work on potable water of Rs 3000 crore has begun and soon water will be delivered through pipelines at each house in Bundelkhand,” he said.
Invoking the valour of Bundelkhand and legendary queen Laxmibai, he said, her freedom cry motivated the entire country. “Now there’s a need for a new cry from this region and that is ‘My Jhansi, My Bundelkhand’ to help build an Atmanirbhar Bharat,” he said. He appealed to students of agriculture to work in the mode of ‘one-life, one-mission’ and strengthen scientific research, which is the future of the country as it will turn farmers into entrepreneurs and help strengthen the Atamanirbhar mission.
UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Union minister Narendra Tomar were present during the virtual inauguration of the academic building of Rani Laxmibai Central Agricultural University. Around 55,000 people also attended the programme through virtual platform.
Asserting that the farm sector has a major role to play in making India self-reliant, Modi said, “When I talk about ‘atmanirbhar’ in agriculture, it is not limited to foodgrains, but self-reliance of rural economy.”
Earlier, interacting with students of Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, the Prime Minister expressed concern over the Rs 75,000 crore edible oil import bill and sought solution from students on the issue. He also stressed on the need to boost food processing levels and create awareness among farmers about micro, drip and sprinkler irrigation in the drought-prone Bundelkhand region and other parts of the country.
The PM also stressed on promoting recycling of water and rainwater harvesting through innovative and less costlier technology in the region. He also mentioned that Israel’s water technology can be of use.
Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University started its first academic session in 2014-15 and is offering both under-graduate and post-graduate courses in agriculture, horticulture and forestry. It is currently operating from the Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, as the main buildings were getting ready.
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