Our villages have shown they can also lead the change: Modi

New Delhi, July 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that villages have shown that they can not only bring change but can also lead the change.

The Prime Minister was virtually addressing a 'Natural Farming Conclave' organised in Gujarat's Surat. The conclave is witnessing participation of thousands of farmers and all other stakeholders who have made adoption of natural farming in Surat a success story.

The Prime Minister noted that when big projects are undertaken with the power of people's participation then their success is ensured by the people of the country themselves.

He gave the example of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) where people were given a key role in the project. "Similarly, the extraordinary success of the 'Digital India Mission' is also the country's answer to those who used to say that bringing change in the village is not easy. Our villages have shown that villages can not only bring change but can also lead the change," he said.

The Prime Minister expressed confidence that Jan Andolan (People's movement) regarding natural farming will also be a huge success in the coming days and said that farmers who will get involved early with this movement will reap great benefit.

"Today's programme is an indication of how Gujarat is leading the country's resolution of achieving the goals of the Amrit Kaal. Success of Surat in connecting 75 farmers in every panchayat with natural farming is going to become an example for the entire country," the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister said, "In connection with 75 years of Independence, the country has started working on many goals which will become the basis for major changes in the times to come. The basis of progress and speed of the country is the spirit of 'Sabka Prayas', which is leading this development journey of ours and that is why 'Gram Panchayats' have been given a key role in the welfare projects for the poor and the deprived."

He said that local bodies played a concerted role in selecting 75 farmers from every panchayat and hand-holded them with training and other resources. "This has led to a situation where more than 40,000 farmers in 550 panchayats have become involved in natural farming. This is a great beginning and is very encouraging. The Surat Model of natural farming can become a model for the entire country."

The Prime Minister emphasized that at the basis of our life, our health, our society is our agriculture system. "India has been an agriculture based country by nature and culture. Therefore, as our farmer progresses, as our agriculture progresses and prospers, so will our country progress," he said.

He reminded the farmers that natural farming is a means of prosperity as well as respecting and serving our mother earth.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the entire world is talking about a sustainable lifestyle. "This is one area where India has led the world for centuries, therefore, now is the time when we move forward on the path of natural farming and take full advantage of the global opportunities that are emerging," he said.

Modi also talked about the measures taken by the government for promoting natural farming in the form of schemes like 'Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Scheme' that are providing resources and training for traditional farming.

The Prime Minister said that natural farming has been linked with the 'Namami Gange' project as a separate campaign has been undertaken to create a natural farming corridor along the Ganga river.

The Prime Minister also informed the participants about the quality assurance system for certification of produce of natural farming. He also said that certified products fetch good prices when farmers export them.

Source: IANS