New Delhi, August 15
Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday said that to ensure farmers benefit from modern scientific developments, the Centre will start a monthly talk show on the radio from September called 'Kisano Ki Baat'.
"On the lines of Modi Ji's Mann Ki Baat program, the Kisan Ki Baat program will be started soon. We will start this in September. We will disclose the dates soon. We will soon start 'Kisano ki Baat'," Chouhan said.
Addressing the farmer's community, the Union Agriculture Minister refused to welcome himself and welcomed the farmers himself and said "we will not let ourselves be welcomed, farmers are guests and we are hosts, we will welcome the farmer."
"The radio show could be modelled on the lines of the highly popular 'Mann Ki Baat' by Prime Minister Modi," he added.
Chouhan said that "through the talk show, farmers can interact directly with scientists, senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, and even with him to discuss their problems and get details of different programmes and schemes."
The first such interactive radio show is likely to start next month (September).
Chouhan also said that a national mission on natural farming is being framed, which would give a fresh lease of life to such agriculture.
"These days some people talk about farmers, who have never had anything to do with farming. Those who have not seen the villages, have not seen the streets of the village, have not seen the fields, have not seen the footpaths, who do not know how wheat grains look, who do not understand the difference between green chillies and red chillies and they try to talk about farming," Chouhan indirectly attacks LoP Rahul Gandhi.
Last month, Rahul Gandhi met delegations of farmers in the Parliament.
Earlier today, delivering his customary address from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 78th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended farmers for choosing organic farming and added that the country's farmers can make India the organic food basket of the world as it moves towards its goal of Viksit Bharat.
"We need to reform the farm sector. Today we are giving easy loans, tech, and valuation of produce. Today when everyone is concerned about the earth, we are grateful to farmers for choosing organic farming which we have made provisions for in the budget," the Prime Minister said.