During Sunday’s 131st ‘Mann Ki Baat’ broadcast, PM Narendra Modi lauded the innovative spirit sweeping India’s farming community. Farmers are blending age-old practices with fresh market opportunities and tech-savvy methods, leading to higher outputs and earnings.
Central to his address was Odisha farmer Hirod Patel’s journey. From routine rice farming with his father Shiv Shankar eight years prior, Hirod pioneered an integrated farm ecosystem.
He ingeniously placed a strong netting over the pond for climbing vegetables. Surrounding it, rows of banana, guava, and coconut trees flourish, complemented by fish culture in the pond. This all-in-one model ensures efficient land and water use while diversifying revenue.
Modi turned to Kerala’s Thrissur district next, praising a farm growing 570 diverse rice types—from local heirlooms to herbal and out-of-state varieties. Such efforts are crucial for conserving genetic diversity in rice.
India’s prowess shines through: as the top rice producer with over 150 million tons produced, it meets domestic needs and bolsters global supplies. These farmer tales from ‘Mann Ki Baat’ highlight a new era of sustainable, profitable agriculture.