The Centre has laid stress on irrigation, better infrastructure in agriculture sector, low interest rates to farmers and crop insurance to bring an ‘evergreen revolution’ in the country, Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said here on Wednesday.

The agriculture sector is already on the priority list of the Union Government, Naidu said while asking farmers to make use of latest technology, research, storage and better management in agriculture activities to enhance the income of farmers.

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The Centre has allocated Rs 1,60,000 crore for agriculture in this year’s budget out of which Rs 50,000 crore alone has been given to Prime Minister Krishi Sinchai Yojna to improve quality and quantity of agriculture production, Naidu said, while inaugurating ‘Gram 2017’, a Global Rajasthan Agritech meet bring organised in partnership with Ficci.

To promote marketing of agriculture products, more than 46 lakh farmers and 90,000 traders have already been enrolled with the National Agriculture Market from 16 states, he said. He also said villages and urban cities should be developed simultaneously. “If we need to develop the country, cities and villages should be developed simultaneously. That’s why we launched smart cities and Adarsh Gram schemes,” Naidu said.

The Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet (GRAM) in Rajasthan is aimed at creating awareness about new technological inputs and innovations in the agriculture sector. Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje also asked farmers to adopt new and innovative methods to supplement their agricultural income. She called upon farmers to go in for organic farming and innovative technologies like aquaponic and aeroponic farming that can increase production several times.

She urged farmers to set aside a part of their land for organic farming which would fetch higher prices in the market. To promote organic farming, Rajasthan government has prepared Around 1150 clusters, she added.

Raje asked farmers to set up agro-processing units in their areas to supplement their income. With an investment of Rs 40 lakh, the Rajasthan government will provide subsidy of up to Rs 20 lakh, she said.