In the latest episode of his popular radio show ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the evolving mindset of Indian farmers who are embracing new markets and modern techniques alongside traditional farming. This shift is boosting both their incomes and productivity across the nation.
PM Modi shared an inspiring story from Odisha about young farmer Hirod Patel. Eight years ago, Hirod and his father Shiv Shankar Patel stuck to conventional paddy cultivation. But Hirod envisioned something bigger. He transformed their farm into a multi-purpose model that maximizes every inch of land.
He built a sturdy netted structure over the farm pond to grow creeper vegetables. Around the pond, he planted banana, guava, and coconut trees while starting fish farming in the water below. This integrated approach combines crop farming, vegetable production, fruit orchards, and aquaculture in one spot. The result? Optimal land use, water conservation, and a significant jump in earnings.
The Prime Minister also spotlighted a village in Thrissur district, Kerala, where a single farm cultivates 570 varieties of rice. These include local breeds, herbal types, and seeds from other states. It’s not just farming; it’s a vital effort to preserve the rich legacy of rice seeds.
Modi emphasized the tangible impact of such innovations. India has become the world’s largest rice producer, churning out over 150 million tons annually. Not only self-sufficient, the country now plays a key role in global food supply chains. These stories underscore how farmer ingenuity is driving agricultural transformation in India.