The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi interacted with beneficiaries of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra today via video conferencing. Thousands of beneficiaries of Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra from across the country joined the event. The programme was also joined by Union Ministers, MPs, MLAs and local level representatives.
The Prime Minister’s first interaction was with Shri M Mallikarjuna Reddy of Karimnagar, Telangana, a farmer who is also involved in animal husbandry and horticulture. Shri Reddy is B Tech graduate and a former employee of a software company. Narrating his journey, Shri Reddy said education has helped him to become a better farmer. He is following an integrated system where he is doing animal husbandry, horticulture and natural farming. Main benefit of this approach is regular daily income for him. He is into medicinal farming also and is getting income from five streams. While he was earning 6 lakh in traditional mono approach of farming now with the integrated approach he is earning 12 lakh rupees per annum that is double of his previous income.
Shri Reddy has been awarded by many organizations including ICAR and also by the former Vice President Shri Venkiah Naidu. He is also propagating integrated and natural farming and also training farmers in the nearby areas. He availed benefits of Kisan Credit Cards, Soil health Card, drip irrigation subsidy and Fasal Bima. The Prime Minister asked him to check his interest rate on the loan availed on KCC as central government and state government provide interest subsidy.
The Prime Minister asked him to meet students and encourage the educated youth to enter the agriculture sector. The Prime Minister also interacted with his two daughters. Expressing happiness on educated youth taking up farming, the Prime Minister said “you are a strong example of the possibilities in farming” while praising his integrated approach to farming he said that his work will inspire other farmers. The Prime Minister complimented Shri Reddy’s wife for her sacrifice and support to the entrepreneur.
