On Monday, October 6, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari appealed to the farmers to follow the crop patterns and divert themselves towards cash crops such as sugarcane, supplementary farming businesses, and goat rearing. He addressed the large gathering of farmers at Sanguvafa in Bhandara’s Sakoli tehsil and highlighted the urgent need to change farming because of climate change. The Minister said that because of changing natural cycles and intense climate shifts, the productivity of traditional crops such as cotton, soybean, and paddy has fallen; experimentation and innovation must now guide farming. Furthermore, he added that growing new cash crops, promoting dairy, and goat rearing are necessary, and developing agriculture with new technology and encouragement for experimental farmers is the objective. He suggested the adoption of Artificial Intelligence, drones, soil testing, water management, and micro-irrigation techniques.
The minister emphasized on sugarcane industry apart from experimentation and innovation in Farming
In addition, he raised the central point regarding sugarcane’s broader economic value as he stated: “From sugarcane, producing ethanol and organic fertilizer will benefit both the nation and farmers. The aggregate economic value of sugarcane is very large”. Gadkari focused that the sugar industry’s capability has increased well apart sugar alone into ethanol. Biogas, biofertiliser, and energy production could help save foreign exchange, along with directly benefiting farmers.
Farm income should not depend on a single crop
He underscored that farm income should not depend on a single crop, saying, “Integrated farming and auxiliary industries will boost the farmer’s economic spine by encouraging dairy, goat-farming, and poultry as feasible alternatives. Moreover, the minister mentioned the launch of the Agrovision initiative, which aims to promote modern agricultural methods, decrease farmer distress and suicides, and provide training to innovative cultivators