Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for the modernization of Indian agriculture, the promotion of crop diversification and the empowerment of farmers through technology, research and value addition. He said that the development of the agricultural sector is essential to achieving the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’.
Addressing the Kisan Tak Bharat Agriculture Conference 2026 on November 12, he highlighted India’s agricultural growth, rising exports and government initiatives aimed at improving farm productivity and farmers’ incomes.
The PM Modi said India’s annual agricultural exports have crossed ₹4 lakh crore, while the country ranks first globally in the production of milk, pulses, jute, rice and coarse cereals. He also noted that over the last decade, milk production has increased by approximately 70 percent, egg production by 90 percent and fish production has more than doubled. He mentioned that horticultural production has grown from 280 million tonnes to over 350 million tonnes.
Modi highlighted the expansion of agricultural technology, citing over 8,400 soil-testing laboratories, 725 Krishi Vigyan Kendras and 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). He also stressed the role of Namo Drone Didi, AI-enabled equipment and sensor-based tools in reducing farming costs and improving productivity.
Modi urged farmers to diversify beyond wheat, rice and sugarcane, and explore dairy, fisheries, poultry and beekeeping to boost their incomes. Highlighting the PM-KUSUM scheme, he said nearly 12 lakh solar pumps had been provided to farmers, helping reduce electricity costs and creating additional income opportunities through solar power generation.
Modi said the government had limited the diesel price hike to ₹7 per litre despite crude oil prices rising from $70 to $122 per barrel, absorbing ₹43 per litre of the additional cost. He said the move involved an expenditure of ₹14,000 crore per month.
On farmer welfare, Modi said the government had spent ₹16 lakh crore over the past 12 years to ensure affordable fertilisers. He cited subsidised prices of ₹1,300 per bag for DAP and less than ₹300 for urea, despite higher international prices. He also said free Foot and Mouth Disease vaccines had been administered to livestock belonging to farmers.
Recalling his agricultural initiatives in Gujarat, Modi emphasised the ‘Lab to Land’ approach to bring scientific research and expert guidance directly to farmers. He also highlighted opportunities in agri-engineering and agri-startups, calling for greater collaboration to promote innovation and modern farming.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that agricultural development should focus not only on increasing production but also on improving productivity, value addition and profitability. Modi expressed confidence that the government would consider suggestions emerging from the conference, reiterating that prosperous farmers and thriving villages are essential to building a Viksit Bharat.
(PIB)
