Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has called on farmers to look beyond traditional crop cultivation and actively explore agro-based products to substantially increase their income. Speaking in New Delhi, he emphasized that for India to achieve its vision of a developed nation, a massive increase in the income of its citizens is non-negotiable .
The Income Multiplier for a ‘Viksit Bharat’
Mr. Dhankhar stressed that the concept of a developed India, or ‘Viksit Bharat’, goes beyond the nation’s economic ranking in the world. He asserted that to make this vision a ground reality, the income of the people would need to increase by eight times .
He expressed confidence that this could be achieved, provided farmers adopt a far-sighted approach. Currently, farmers make considerable efforts in cultivation and harvesting, but their role often ends there. The Vice President identified this as a significant area for growth, urging farmers to become more involved in the entire agricultural value chain.
The Path to Value Addition
A key part of his message was the need for farmers to participate in value addition based on their produce. He highlighted that the entire food processing industry is reliant on farm produce, presenting a massive opportunity for farmers to capture more value . Instead of simply selling raw crops, farmers can explore processing them into products like flour, oils, and packaged foods, which fetch a higher price in the market .
He also called on farmers to increase their participation in animal husbandry, which offers another avenue for income diversification through milk, meat, and other byproducts .
By exploring agro-based products and participating in value addition, farmers can significantly increase their income and play a central role in India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation.
