New Delhi: The BJP said on Sunday that agriculture produce from India has made their presence felt in the global market, noting that their export has reached USD 51 billion with a rise of 20 per cent according to the latest figures.
Addressing a press conference, BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said export market for Indian farm produce was looking up with many restrictions in place earlier now eased.
India has become the second largest producer of rice, wheat, sugarcane, cotton, fruits and vegetables, he said.
As part of its ‘samajik nyay pakhwada’ (fortnight dedicated to social justice) campaign to highlight the central government’s welfare measures, the BJP on Sunday focussed on the initiatives taken by the Modi government to boost the agriculture sector and farmers’ income.
The campaign has been organised to mark the party’s 42nd Foundation Day which fell on April 6.
Rudy said foodgrains production has now reached record 305 million tonnes from 265 million tonnes in 2013, while horticulture production has reached 321 million tonnes from 280 million tonnes in 2013-14.
To help farmers, the government has consistently hiked the minimum support price, with the MSP of rice and wheat rising 43 per cent and 41 per cent respectively since 2014, he said.
After the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government came to power in 2014, the agriculture budget has risen over six folds to Rs 1.32 lakh crore in 2022-23 from Rs 21,938 crore in 2013-14.
The former union minister also cited schemes like direct cash transfer to farmers and crop insurance to highlight the positive measures of the government.
Over Rs 1.39 lakh crore has been transferred to over 11 crore families while nearly 7.7 crore farmers have benefitted from the insurance scheme, he said.
Institutional credit to farmers stood at Rs 16.5 lakh crore in 2021-22 against Rs 7.3 lakh crore in 2013-14, he said.
