Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a unified approach to link local farmers with global markets, aiming to transform Indian agriculture into a globally competitive sector.
Addressing a budget-related webinar, Modi emphasized the importance of leveraging India's diverse climatic conditions to scale up high-value crops, such as nuts, cocoa, and agarwood, to win global markets.
He urged farmers to take full advantage of the country's agro-climatic zones and focus on raising productivity and exports from the farm sector, a key source of income for nearly half of all Indians.
Modi also highlighted the success of existing schemes, such as PM-Kisan and PM Fasal Bima Yojana, which have reduced risks for farmers and provided them with basic economic security.
He called for effective implementation of this year's budget proposals, including region-specific promotion of crops like cocoa, cashew, and sandalwood, and modernisation of the fishery sector to catapult India into one of the largest exporters globally.
Modi stressed the importance of chemical-free and natural farming for sustainable agriculture, a strategic pillar of India's long-term development journey.
