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PM Modi addresses Global Potato Conference via video conferencing

Published By : Admin | January 28, 2020 | 10:21 IST
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PM addressed the 3rd Global Potato Conclave at Gandhinagar, Gujarat through Video Conferencing today. The previous two Global Potato Conferences were organized during 1999, and 2008. The Conclave is being organized by Indian Potato Association (IPA) in collaboration with Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, and ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla and International Potato Center (CIP), Lima, Peru.

Scientists around the world, potato farmers and other stakeholders have gathered for the Global Potato Conclave to discuss the important aspects related to food and nutrition demand in the next few days.

Addressing the Conclave, the Prime Minister said that the highlight of the 3rd conclave is that Potato Conference, AgriExpo and Potato Field Day are all happening at the same time. He also said that it is a commendable effort that 6 thousand farmers are going on field visits on the Field Day.

The Prime Minister said that it is significant that the 3rd Global Potato Conclave is being held in Gujarat, the leading state in Potato production and productivity in the country. He said that while the area under potato cultivation increased by about 20% in India in the last eleven years, it has increased by about 170% in Gujarat during the same period.

The Prime Minister said that this is largely owing to the policy initiatives and decisions which lead to the State using modern methods of agriculture like sprinkler and drip irrigation for cultivation, along with the best cold storage facilities and linkages to the Food Processing Industry. He said today Gujarat has major Potato processing companies in the state and that most of the potato exporters are also based in Gujarat. These have led to the emergence of the state as a major potato hub in the country.

The Prime Minister said that his Government is taking rapid steps towards the goal of doubling the income of farmers by 2022. He added that as a result of the efforts of farmers and the combination of government policy, India is among the top 3 countries in the world in the production of many cereals and other food items. He also listed the steps taken by his Government to promote food processing industries at every level like opening the sector to 100% FDI, helping in value addition and value chain development through PM Kisan Sampada Yojana.

The Prime Minister also mentioned that earlier this month, a new record has also been created by transferring an amount of Rs. 12,000 crores to the bank accounts of 6 crore farmers through direct transfer. He also mentioned that the priority of his Government is to reduce middlemen and other layers between the farmer and the consumer. He said that the government's emphasis is also on promoting agricultural technology-based start ups so that farmers' databases and agri stacks needed for smart and precision agriculture can be used.

The Prime Minister urged the scientists to provide solutions to various issues in Agriculture through modern biotechnology, Artificial Intelligence, Block chain, Drone Technology. He said that the greatest responsibility of the scientific community and policy makers is to see that no one is left hungry or malnourished.

Background:

The 3rd Global Potato Conclave will provide an opportunity to bring all stakeholders at one common platform so that all the issues are discussed and future plans are made involving everyone related to the potato sector. This will be a unique event to expose different stakeholders of the country to the frontiers of knowledge and innovations in potato research. This mega event has three major components; (i) The Potato Conference, (ii) The Agri Expo and (iii) Potato Field Day.

The Potato Conference will be held for 3 days during 28-30 January, 2020. It will have 10 themes out of which 8 themes are based on basic and applied research. The remaining two themes will have special emphasis on potato trade, value chain management and policy issues.

AgriExpo will be organized during 28 to 30 January, 2020, to showcase the status of potato-based industries and trade, processing, seed potato production, biotechnology, public-private partnership in technology transfer and farmers related products etc.

Potato Field Day will be organized on January 31, 2020. This will include demonstration of advancements in potato mechanization, potato varieties and latest technologies.

Major issues that are to crop up are Shortage of Planting Material, Supply Chains, Post-Harvest Losses, needs for enhanced processing, export and diversified utilisation and necessary policy support – viz for production and use of certified seed, for long distance transport and export promotion.

 

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Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on 1st March 2026. After his visit to Rajasthan and Gujarat, Prime Minister will reach Chennai on 28th February night at around 9 PM.

On 1st March, at around 11:45 AM, Prime Minister will inaugurate, dedicate to the Nation and lay the foundation stone of various development projects worth over Rs. 2,700 crore in Puducherry. He will also address the gathering on the occasion.

Thereafter, he will travel to Madurai where, at around 3 PM, he will inaugurate, dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of infrastructure projects worth over Rs. 4,400 crore. He will also address the gathering on the occasion. At around 4 PM, Prime Minister will perform darshan and pooja at Arulmigu Subramaniyaswamy Temple, Tirupparankundram in Madurai.

PM in Puducherry

Prime Minister will inaugurate, dedicate to the Nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple projects aimed at strengthening infrastructure, urban services, industrial development, education, healthcare and sustainable growth in Puducherry.

Prime Minister will inaugurate several key initiatives including the launch of e-Buses under the PM e-Bus Seva Initiative, the Integrated Command and Control Centre under the Smart City Mission, tenements for Economically Weaker Sections under City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS) initiative, and important sewerage and water supply sector projects of the Government of Puducherry. He will also inaugurate the Composite Engineering Block- Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Block and Ganga Hostel of National Institute of Technology, Karaikal; the modernization of the Regional Cancer Centre at JIPMER; and new annexe buildings, lecture halls and hostels of Pondicherry University, further strengthening higher education and healthcare infrastructure in the region.

Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation the 750-acre Karasur-Sedarapet Industrial Estate, which will house a Pharma Park, Textile Park, IT Park, state-of-the-art research and development centre of IIT Madras and advanced healthcare facilities of JIPMER, thereby providing a major boost to industrial growth and employment generation in the region.

Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of water supply projects to improve drinking water systems and ensure clean and safe water for residents of Puducherry region. He will also lay the foundation stone for construction of 41 rural roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), development of Heritage Town in Puducherry, mangrove restoration under the MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes) scheme, projects in water supply and sanitation sectors, and power sector projects under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), among others.

Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of various projects covering major sectors like urban roads, drainage networks, public buildings, student hostels and sport facilities under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme. The Government of India has approved inclusion of the Puducherry under SASCI scheme which was originally limited to States alone, allowing for capital asset creation works to be taken up for improving infrastructure and common utilities meant for people’s use.

PM in Madurai

Prime Minister will inaugurate, dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone and inaugurate infrastructure projects worth over Rs. 4,400 crore in Madurai, aimed at enhancing connectivity, improving mobility and accelerating regional economic development. He will also address the gathering on the occasion.

Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for four-laning of Marakkanam–Puducherry Section of NH-332A and the Paramakudi–Ramanathapuram Section of NH-87. The four-laning of the Marakkanam–Puducherry section will help reduce traffic congestion in urban areas of Puducherry, reduce travel time by nearly 50%, from one hour to about 30 minutes. The project will provide seamless connectivity among key National Highways and State Highways, enhance access to prominent destinations such as Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), Kalpakkam Atomic Power Station and Auroville, strengthen connectivity between coastal villages and Viluppuram district headquarters, and boost tourism and economic activity in the region.

The four-laning of the Paramakudi–Ramanathapuram Section of NH-87 will provide faster access to major religious destinations including Madurai, Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi. The project will reduce travel time by around 40%, from one hour to approximately 35 minutes. It will strengthen multi-modal connectivity by linking major railway stations at Madurai and Rameswaram, airports at Madurai and INS Parundu, and non-major ports at Pamban and Rameswaram. Aligned with the principles of PM Gati Shakti, the corridor will integrate key economic nodes including fishing clusters, a Special Economic Zone, a Mega Food Park and a textile cluster, thereby catalysing trade, industry and socio-economic development across the region.

Prime Minister will inaugurate and dedicate to the Nation rail infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing passenger convenience, improving operational efficiency and strengthening rail-based connectivity in the State.

Prime Minister will inaugurate 8 redeveloped railway stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. These redeveloped railway stations are Morappur, Bommidi, Srivilliputtur, Sholavandan, Manaparai, Pollachi Junction, Karaikkudi Junction, Thiruvarur Junction in Tamil Nadu. These stations have been upgraded with modern passenger-centric amenities while incorporating local architectural elements and cultural aesthetics, including improved accessibility, enhanced station buildings, modern waiting halls, lifts and escalators, upgraded platforms and Divyangjan-friendly facilities.

Prime Minister will also dedicate to the Nation the Chennai Beach-Chennai Egmore 4th Line, a rail line that will significantly enhance operational efficiency in the Chennai suburban rail network by facilitating additional passenger and freight train services and benefiting lakhs of daily commuters including office-goers, IT professionals, students and traders.

To further strengthen broadcasting services in Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister will inaugurate three new Akashvani FM relay transmitters at Kumbakonam, Yercaud and Vellore. These transmitters will expand regional coverage, ensure uninterrupted FM broadcasting and enhance access to public broadcasting services across multiple districts of the State.