Raipur: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari
today asked farmers to grow crops which are profitable and use
the latest techniques to boost farm yields and income.
Gadkari was addressing farmers this evening here at
the ongoing National Agriculture Fair .
"Farmers have to come forward for cultivation of crops
which are more profitable, leaving behind farming of
traditional crops. They have to adopt new techniques for the
purpose," he said.
He said that India was now self-reliant as far as
production of rice, wheat and other grains was concerned and,
therefore, farmers should now focus on cultivation of pulses,
oil seeds and those crops which are being imported.
He added that the minimum support prices of main crops
had increased in the past couple of years but, despite that,
farmers were not getting good returns.
"Prices of rice, wheat and sugar are fixed by the
international market. Prices of crops are based on the
principle of demand and supply. The entire world has become an
open market," he said.
He said that in view of this situation, farmers should
take up production of those crops which would bring more
profits in the international market.
"Farmers must also adopt an integrated model of
farming and practice cattle rearing, fisheries and honey
production along with cultivation of crops," Gadkari said.
He informed that the Centre had decided to permit the
use of ethanol as a fuel in the transport system.
"Second generation ethanol can be produced from the
straw of paddy. Trials to use ethanol as fuel in vehicles has
been successfully conducted. The Centre has decided to give
permission to use it as transport fuel," the Union Minister
for Road Transport and Highways said.
Gadkari said that if the experiment was successful,
ethanol production units would be set up in Chhattisgarh,
benefiting farmers.
Gadkari added that Chhattisgarh could become an
"ethanol bowl" apart from being a "rice bowl".
He said that in view of the bumper production of
paddy, a research centre should be set up based on paddy straw
and paddy husk in the state.
PTI
