PM: Foodgrain productivity must rise from 2 tons per hectare to 3 tons per hectare
PM: Tehsil should be the unit of agricultural development
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today called for increasing food-grain productivity from 2 tons per hectare to 3 tons per hectare. Addressing a gathering of farmers at New Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan on the occasion of the launch of DD Kisan, Doordarshan's channel dedicated exclusively to farmers, the Prime Minister also called for making the "Tehsil" the unit of agricultural planning and development.
The Prime Minister said that if the country has to move forward, villages must progress, and if villages are to progress, then it is essential for agriculture to progress. He said there was a time when agriculture was the most preferred of professions, but over a period of time, its attractiveness had declined to rock bottom. He added that with the right incentives and actions, this trend could be completely reversed.
The Prime Minister recalled the inspiration of former Prime Minister Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, which had led farmers to make the country self-sufficient in the production of foodgrains. He said the same inspiration and spirit was needed again, so that the nation became self-sufficient in the production of pulses and oilseeds.
The Prime Minister said the DD Kisan channel should keep an eye and inform farmers about the changes in weather, global markets etc., so that farmers can plan ahead and take the right decisions well in time.
The Prime Minister called for re-engaging rural youth with agriculture in a big way. He said DD Kisan channel can also highlight the efforts of progressive farmers, so that their innovations can be replicated across the country.
The Prime Minister called for farmers to adopt a three-pronged approach to agriculture, which balanced farming, animal husbandry and tree plantation.
The Union Minister for Agriculture Shri Radha Mohan Singh, and the Union Minister for State for Information and Broadcasting, Shri Rajyavardhan Rathore, were present on the occasion.
Fulfilling public aspirations is the core objective of this budget and the resolution of this government: PM Modi
March 09, 2026
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India is working today on a vision of preventive and holistic health: PM
In recent years, the country’s health infrastructure has strengthened, with medical colleges opening in hundreds of districts and health services reaching every village through Ayushman Bharat and Arogya Mandirs: PM
Our Yoga and Ayurveda are becoming popular across the entire world: PM
We must accelerate linking our education system with the real-world economy and increase our focus on AI, automation, digital economy and design-driven manufacturing: PM
India is moving towards an innovation-driven economy: PM
As we prepare for futuristic technologies today; it is crucial that no daughter is held back due to a lack of opportunities: PM
In recent years, sports have been seen as a key pillar of national development; initiatives like Khelo India have energised the sports ecosystem and sports infrastructure is being strengthened nationwide: PM
Friends,
In this series of post-budget webinars, today marks the fourth and most significant one. Fulfilling aspirations of people is not merely a subject of discussion-it is the core objective of this budget and the firm resolve of this government. Education, Skill, Health, Tourism, Sports, and Culture are fundamental sectors that serve as the major means of fulfilling these aspirations. Therefore, in this webinar, we are deliberating on these crucial dimensions. For the implementation of budget announcements, the thoughts and suggestions of all experts, policymakers, scholars, entrepreneurs, and my young companions present here are extremely important. I warmly welcome and greet you all in this fourth session of the budget webinar.
Friends,
India today is working on a vast vision for preventive and holistic health. In recent years, the country’s health infrastructure has been strengthened, with hundreds of new medical colleges opening across districts. Through the Ayushman Bharat scheme and wellness centers, healthcare services have expanded to villages nationwide. Our yoga and Ayurveda are gaining popularity across the world. You will certainly discuss various aspects of this, but I would like to highlight one important subject-the care economy. In the coming decade, the number of senior citizens in the country will rise rapidly. Moreover, even today, many countries across the world face a huge demand for caregivers. Therefore, in the health sector, new skill-based employment opportunities are emerging for millions of youth. I urge the health sector experts present in this webinar to suggest new training models and partnerships so that the training ecosystem in the country can be further strengthened.
Friends,
Closely related to this is the subject of telemedicine. Today, a large number of people in remote areas are benefiting from it, and trust in it is steadily growing. However, I believe there is still a great need to increase awareness and ease of access in this area.
Friends,
Over the past decade, a major transformation has taken place in the mindset of the country. Today, beyond the boundaries of villages, towns, and cities, every young Indian wants to do something new, driven by the spirit to achieve. This new mindset of the new generation is the nation’s greatest strength, its most valuable capital for a bright future. To capitalize on this, we must continuously modernize and upgrade our education system. The new education policy has laid the necessary foundation for this. Now, it is essential that our curriculum remains updated according to market needs! We must accelerate the process of linking our education system with the real-world economy. We need to place greater focus on subjects like AI and automation, digital economy, and design-driven manufacturing.
Friends,
The country is consistently working to connect education with employment and enterprise. New models like university townships reflect this approach. Today, India is promoting the A.V.G.C. sector-Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics. India is moving towards an innovation-driven economy. Many academicians and academic institutions are connected to this webinar today. I urge you to deliberate on developing your campuses as centers of industry collaboration and research-driven learning. This will provide students with real-world exposure and strengthen the skill ecosystem.
Friends,
A very important subject is STEM-Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. It is a matter of great pride that the number of daughters showing interest in STEM subjects is steadily increasing in our country. As we prepare for futuristic technologies, it is crucial that no daughter is held back due to lack of opportunities. In this webinar, you must discuss this direction. We need to place greater emphasis on increasing women’s participation. We must build a research ecosystem where young researchers have full opportunities to experiment and work on new ideas.
Friends,
Youth power becomes national power only when it is healthy, disciplined, and full of self-confidence. That is why, in recent years, sports have been seen as an important stream of national development. Initiatives like Khelo India have infused new energy into the sports ecosystem of the country. Sports infrastructure is being strengthened across the nation. In this webinar, you must deliberate on some key questions: How can talent be identified more accurately even from small towns and villages? How can structured financial support for thousands of athletes be improved? And thirdly, how can our sports bodies be made more professional? In the coming years, the Commonwealth Games will be held in India, and the country is striving to host the Olympics. In such a scenario, we must identify young athletes at an early age and nurture them, only then will India be able to raise its flag high in international competitions.
Friends,
Tourism and culture play a major role in creating new employment opportunities. When tourism grows in a place, the branding of that location or city also increases. This accelerates the overall development of that city. India has no shortage of historical sites. But for a long time, tourism remained confined to a few select destinations. Now, we are focusing on developing tourist destinations across every corner of the country.
Friends,
In this webinar, you must discuss a holistic approach to strengthening India’s tourism ecosystem. Your suggestions on trained guides, hospitality skills, digital connectivity, community participation, cleanliness, tourism, and related subjects will be very important.
Friends,
When institutions, industry, and academia work together, the pace of transformation accelerates. I am confident that this series of post-budget webinars will provide concrete direction for the future. Such efforts will further strengthen the foundation of a developed India. And friends, it is a very pleasant experience that due to the tradition of webinars, after the budget and especially during implementation, I have been told that this year, lakhs of people connected to these subjects-experts, beneficiaries, and those involved in the system-have actively participated in the webinars. Our officials have informed me that excellent and practical suggestions are coming in. This means not only solutions to problems but also new energy and new momentum to move forward with confidence. I say this is a very delightful experience of the webinars. All those who participated in these webinars are worthy of appreciation and gratitude. Once again, I extend my best wishes and heartfelt thanks to all of you.
