President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday said the country's farm production and procurement increased during the 2020-21 crop year despite the pandemic and agricultural exports reaching a record level of Rs 3 lakh crore during the same period.
In his address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament at the start of the Budget session, Kovind said the government is focusing on making the country self-sufficient in edible oils besides making special efforts to promote organic farming, natural farming and crop diversification.
"My government is working continuously to empower the farmers and the rural economy of the country... I would like to give maximum credit to the small farmers of the country for this consistent success and strengthening of the agriculture sector," he said.
Highlighting achievements of the Modi government in the farm sector, the President said despite the pandemic, farmers produced more than 30 crore tonnes of food grains and 33 crore tonnes of horticulture produce in the 2020-21 crop year (July-June).
The government made record procurement with the purchase of 433 lakh tonnes of wheat during the 2021-22 rabi marketing year (April-March) benefiting about 50 lakh farmers.
A record quantity of about 900 lakh tonnes of paddy was procured during the 2020-21 Kharif marketing (October-September), benefitting 1.30 crore farmers, he added.
"Our agriculture exports have also reached a record level due to the efforts of the government. Agricultural exports registered a growth of more than 25 per cent in 2020-21, and have reached nearly Rs 3 lakh crore," Kovind said.