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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lauded India’s farmers for driving the country to become the world’s largest rice producer, highlighting their innovation, resilience, and growing global impact during his monthly radio programme, Mann Ki Baat.
The Prime Minister highlighted the inspiring story of Hirod Patel, a young farmer from Odisha, who transformed his traditional paddy farm into an integrated, highly productive model.
Patel constructed a mesh structure over his farm pond and began growing creeper vegetables above it, while cultivating bananas, guavas, and coconuts around the pond. He also introduced fish farming, creating a multi-layered system that maximised land use and optimised water resources.
This integrated approach not only improved farm productivity but also significantly increased his income while conserving water. Today, his farm has become a model of innovation, attracting farmers from across the region who are eager to replicate his success.
The Prime Minister said such examples demonstrate how farmers are redefining agriculture through innovation and efficient resource utilisation.
Kerala Village Preserves Heritage with 570 Rice Varieties in One Field
In another remarkable example, Modi highlighted a village in Kerala’s Thrissur district where farmers cultivate an astonishing 570 varieties of rice in a single field.
These include indigenous varieties, medicinal and herbal strains, and varieties sourced from other states. The initiative, he said, represents not just agricultural diversity but also a determined effort to preserve India’s rich seed heritage.
“This is not just farming, it is a massive campaign to preserve our agricultural legacy,” Modi said.
He also pointed to the growing global demand for India’s premium agricultural products. Speciality items such as Nanjangud bananas, Mysuru betel leaves, and Indi lemons — all known for their unique taste and GI-tag recognition — are now being exported to international markets, including the Maldives.
Highlighting the changing mindset of India’s farmers, the Prime Minister said today’s agricultural community is focused not only on increasing production but also on enhancing quality and tapping global opportunities.
“India’s farmers are creating new benchmarks. They are strengthening the country’s economy and making their mark across the world,” he said, underscoring agriculture’s central role in India’s growth story.
