In its Lok Sabha election manifesto, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has unveiled ambitious plans to bolster the agricultural sector, with a particular focus on supporting farmers and promoting India as a Global Nutrition Hub.
The manifesto outlines the Sree Anna program, aimed at assisting over 2 crore small and marginal farmers in producing millets, a nutritious crop, with minimal investment and ensuring better prices for their produce.
India boasts a rich diversity of millets, including Sorghum, Pearl Millet, Finger Millet, and others, collectively known as nutri-cereals. The BJP manifesto emphasizes the global recognition of millets, envisioning them as the “global superfood” with substantial health benefits.
Furthermore, the BJP manifesto underscores the goal of achieving self-reliance in the production of pulses and edible oils, commodities that India currently imports to meet its growing demand.
India is a significant consumer and producer of pulses, with popular varieties including chana, Masur, urad, Kabuli chana, and tur. Similarly, in the edible oil sector, India imports a considerable portion of its needs, primarily palm oil and its derivatives.
Also Read: BJP Election Manifesto ‘Sankalp Patra’ Promises Uniform Civil Code and Peace in Northeast
The manifesto specifies plans to enhance the production of pulses such as tur, urad, masoor, moong, and chana, along with edible oils like mustard, soybean, sesame, and groundnut.
Emphasizing the welfare and empowerment of farmers, the BJP highlights various initiatives such as soil health cards, micro-irrigation, crop insurance, seed supply, and direct financial assistance under the PM Kisan Samman Yojana.
The manifesto reaffirms the commitment to making agriculture a remunerative occupation and strengthening schemes like the PM Fasal Bima Yojana, aimed at providing crop insurance to farmers.
Additionally, the BJP pledges to establish new clusters for vegetable production and storage to ensure an adequate supply of nutritious vegetables like onion, tomato, and potato.
The manifesto also unveils plans for the National Mission on Natural Farming, promoting eco-friendly and climate-resilient agricultural practices.
With a focus on crop diversification and sustainability, the BJP manifesto underscores the party’s commitment to incentivizing agriculture and ensuring the welfare of farmers across the country.
