Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday appealed to farmers to engage in massive plantations as such a step will help deal with challenges such as ecology and climate change.

The farmers must grow vegetables in their backyard, they must get technologically upgraded and they must look to new sources of energy, he said speaking at the foundation day of the Indira Gandhi Agriculture University in Raipur.

He said he is delighted when he goes to the countryside and finds solar energy being harvested by the farmers extensively. ”It is the farmer who has to convey the message to the world – conserve water,” he added.

The vice president observed that agriculture to the farmer is not a profession or a matter of livelihood but it is a means to make contribution to the society. ”We must always salute our farmers, we have to motivate our farmers. They are already adapting to it and I am extremely happy and delighted that when the government started the scheme PM KisanNidhi, one challenge was how the farmers receive money directly in their account. I am happy to inform you that more than 110 million farmers in the country are getting that money in their accounts three times in a year. It is a matter of pride for me not because the government is capable of doing it, but the farmers are capable of receiving it and that’s the big change,” he added.

Describing the farmers as major stakeholders and most impactful foot soldiers to make Bharat Viksit @2047, Mr Dhankhar said,”If the farmer is happy the nation is happy. Look at the immense pride of contribution of the farmers that since April, 2020, over 800 million people of this country are being fed, have been afforded food security and honourable Prime Minister has indicated for next 5 years also. Because there was a time when we had to import wheat, now our farmers are so competent and capable.”

He told the students that they have to start a new chapter in the agriculture economy. Agriculture produce happens to be the greatest market area. Mr Dhankhar appealed to the students to become influencers and inspire farmers and their children to take to marketing of the agriculture produce. ”If the farmer is involved in the marketing of agricultural produce, the farmer’s children will not be looking for employment, instead they will be giving employment,” he added.

He was happy to note that very talented people from IITs, IIMs and top services are getting into marketing of milk, vegetables and organic grains.