Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, while addressing students at Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry in Solan, Himachal Pradesh, emphasized the importance of farmers in building a developed India. He said the path to a developed India passes through the farmer’s field and farmers are not just food providers but also destiny makers.
He praised the younger generation for being fortunate to witness a shift from “Agriculture Intelligence to Artificial Intelligence,” and said this journey can bring revolutionary change to rural India.
The Vice President raised concern over the mindset of reserving the best produce for export. “It bothers me when people say — this is for export. Why? We should eat and wear the best ourselves,” he said.
He stressed the need for direct financial support to farmers. Referring to the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, he suggested that the current ₹6,000 annual support should be increased according to inflation. “If indirect support given to agriculture is transferred directly to farmers, it could add ₹30,000 more per year to each farmer household,” he noted.
Highlighting the benefit of direct subsidies, he said if fertilizer subsidy is sent directly to farmers, they can decide whether to use chemical fertilizers or go for natural farming. He emphasized the need to make farmers the decision-makers.
Mr. Dhankhar also underlined the importance of rural youth becoming agricultural entrepreneurs. He said rural boys and girls must be trained for agri-business and cited the example of the U.S., where farmer families earn more than others due to direct government support.
Calling for attention to rural areas, he criticized the current system where vegetables and fruits come from cities to villages. “Why should tomatoes rot on roads when there’s surplus production?” he asked, urging for on-field value addition and food processing facilities.
The event was attended by MP Suresh Kumar Kashyap, Himachal Pradesh’s Health Minister Dr. (Col) Dhani Ram Shandil, university Vice Chancellor Prof. Rajeshwar Singh Chandel, and other dignitaries.
