New Delhi, Oct 11 (NationPress) On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated projects valued at Rs 42,000 crore aimed at revolutionizing the agricultural and allied sectors.

The launch included two significant initiatives - the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, with a total investment of Rs 35,440 crore.

Additionally, projects exceeding Rs 5,450 crore were unveiled across various sectors, including agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing.

PM Modi also laid the foundation for further projects worth approximately Rs 815 crore.

In his address, the Prime Minister emphasized the critical role farmers play in shaping a developed India.

“Farmers have a crucial part in making India ‘Viksit Bharat’. It is essential for India to achieve self-reliance in food production and cultivate export-oriented crops for the global market,” he stated.

He highlighted that the recent reduction in GST has significantly benefitted rural areas and farmers.

Reflecting on the past, PM Modi mentioned how the previous administration overlooked agriculture but noted that the sector has experienced impressive growth in the last 11 years.

“India's agricultural exports have nearly doubled in the past 11 years. Grain production has surged by almost 900 lakh metric tonnes. The production of fruits and vegetables has increased by more than 640 lakh metric tonnes. Currently, India leads globally in milk production. We have implemented reforms... from seeds to markets for the benefit of farmers,” he expressed.

PM Modi urged for a continuous effort to improve across all domains to achieve a developed nation.

“Today, we are focusing on animal husbandry, fish farming, and beekeeping. These initiatives have empowered small farmers and landless families. In rural areas, Namo Drone Didi are pioneering modern techniques for spraying fertilizers and pesticides. The recent GST reforms... have primarily benefitted villagers, farmers, and livestock owners,” he remarked.

He also encouraged farmers to diversify their crops beyond wheat and rice, emphasizing the importance of pulses to ensure protein security. The Pulses mission is vital to decrease India’s reliance on imports by boosting domestic production, he added.

Other initiatives inaugurated include artificial insemination training centers in Bengaluru and Jammu and Kashmir, centers of excellence at Amreli and Banas, an IVF lab in Assam under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, milk powder plants in Mehsana, Indore, and Bhilwara, along with a fish feed plant under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana at Tezpur.

This event also celebrated significant achievements under government initiatives, including 50 lakh farmer memberships in 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), of which 1,100 recorded an annual turnover exceeding Rs 1 crore in 2024-25.