As PM Modi receives FAO's highest honour, farmers hail his agricultural vision
Pune, May 21
The felicitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by the Food and Agriculture Organisation with its highest honour 'Agricola Medal' during his visit to Italy, has been hailed by farmers as a "proud and memorable moment" for the entire farming community.
Farmers across the country are praising the Narendra Modi government over its commitment and resolve to bring notable change in farmers' life as well as their income, and saw the international honour as a recognition of that effort.
Bharat Dighole, the President of Maharashtra State Onion Producers Farmers' Association, on Thursday expressed joy and elation over the development.
"We, the farmers of Maharashtra, welcome this honour for Prime Minister and also extend our best wishes to him. In Maharashtra, crops like onions, grapes, and sugarcane are grown, soybean and many other crops are cultivated here, and farming is done on a large scale. On behalf of all these farmers, we extend our gratitude to the Prime Minister."
Notably, PM Modi was conferred with the prestigious Agricola medal by the FAO in Rome on Wednesday, in recognition of his contribution to food security and promotion of sustainable agriculture practices.
In Pune, many farmers heaped praise on PM Modi's long-sighted vision for agriculture, including introduction of modern techniques, assistance of farmers with schemes like PM-KISAN and also over global food security initiatives.
Haji Nazim Sheikh, a local farmer in Pune, said that whenever Prime Minister embarks on foreign tours and speaks about Indian agriculture, farmers, and agricultural produce, it sends a positive message across the entire world.
Speaking to IANS, Haji Nazim Sheikh said that India is primarily considered an agrarian country and with Prime Minister Modi emphasising on agriculture as a key drive of nation's growth, the farmers are bound to benefit in the long term, from this thrust.
He voiced optimism about momentous change in India's agrarian sector in the years to come and said that the recognition for the Prime Minister was an acknowledgement of this shift.
Haji Nazim Sheikh also praised the Prime Minister's vision for promoting coarse cereals and 'millets' such as Bajra, Jowar, and Ragi on a global scale.
He said that it was because of PM Modi's concrete efforts that the traditional staple food has today found its way to dining tables across the globe.
"Prime Minister Modi has consistently championed India's cause on global platforms. It's because of this that the United Nations declared 2023 as 'International Year of Millets'," he added.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is great news! But let's not forget that many small farmers still struggle with input costs and market prices. One award doesn't solve everything. Hope the government ensures that such recognition translates into real benefits like better MSP and loan waivers for the ground-level farmer.
As someone who grew up in a farming family in Punjab, I feel both proud and cautious. The millet push is good for health and environment, but farmers need assured markets, not just awards. That said, Modi ji's international stature certainly helps put Indian agriculture on the world map. 🌾
Excellent recognition for our PM's vision! The way he has promoted millets and sustainable agriculture is commendable. My uncle in Karnataka switched to organic farming after seeing government incentives. This award validates that Indian farmers are capable of feeding the world with the right support.
I'm happy for the farmers who feel represented, but let's be honest—awards for politicians don't fill empty stomachs. Have these farmers seen loan waivers? Have they seen relief from drought? The modi government talks big but ground reality is mixed. Still, this is a proud moment for India internationally. 🇮🇳
As a farmer's daughter from Tamil Nadu, I'm thrilled! The millet movement is real—we now export ragi to Europe! PM Modi's push for coarse grains is reviving traditional wisdom and helping small farmers. But we need more irrigation projects and less dependence on monsoon. Overall, a good step forward! 🌱
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