Rising Rajasthan —Investment in Agriculture Will Boost Mechanization and Productivity, Says Chairman, Rajasthan Farmers’ Commission

Jaipur : Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s initiatives such as ‘Make in India’ and ‘Invest in India’ have been instrumental in attracting significant investment across the country. Advancing this vision, the state government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma, launched the Rising Rajasthan Summit in its first year, aiming to promote investment and generate employment throughout the state. Several investment agreements and MOUs are being signed across different districts to accelerate development. Increasing investment in agriculture will lead to enhanced mechanization and technology, thereby boosting the state’s productivity, stated Shri C.R. Choudhary, Chairman of the Rajasthan Farmers’ Commission.

Shri Choudhary further noted that Rajasthan, India’s largest state, ranks first in the country in the production of mustard, sorghum, and oilseeds, second in grains (millets) and groundnut, and third in soybean, chickpeas, and pulses. He highlighted plans for developing food parks in cities like Jodhpur, Kota, Ganganagar, and Alwar, as well as a proposed food park in Bikaner. He also mentioned the state’s impressive progress in the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ (EODB) ranking, which improved from 132 in 2014 to 63 today, indicating a more investor-friendly environment.

Chief Secretary Shri Sudhansh Pant emphasized the dynamic nature of the state’s agriculture and allied sectors, underscoring the relevance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s ‘Per Drop More Crop’ mission for Rajasthan. He noted that investment-focused initiatives like the Rising Rajasthan, launched during the government’s first year, would assure investors of the timely implementation of their projects over the next four years. He also suggested reconsidering the Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet (GRAM) as a major platform for advancing agricultural innovation. Highlighting Rajasthan’s leading position in millet production, Shri Pant urged the promotion of millets through government offices and programs to showcase the crop’s potential and support local farmers.

Notably, the pre-summit has received MOUs worth over ₹19,497 crores from 862 investors across agriculture and allied sectors, including 693 from the Agricultural Marketing Department, 121 from Horticulture, 23 from Agriculture, 9 from the Rajasthan Organic Certification Agency, 7 from Animal Husbandry and Dairy, 4 from the Seed Corporation, 3 from Fisheries, and 2 from the Cooperative Department.

Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India, emphasized the need to view farmers as agripreneurs. He stressed the importance of collaboration between farmers and the private sector to promote innovation and development in agriculture. He stated that crop diversification is vital for sustainable farming, while promoting natural farming methods can significantly reduce fertilizer costs. Dr. Chaturvedi also highlighted the benefits of digital farming, which can increase agricultural efficiency, reduce costs, improve crop yields, and lessen environmental impacts, making it a crucial tool for the future of agriculture.

Agriculture and Horticulture Secretary Shri Rajan Vishal emphasized the importance of focusing on the “4 Ps” in the state’s agricultural strategy—Productivity, Procurement, Processing, and Popularization. He underscored the need for technological advancements and innovative solutions to help double farmers’ income, while also empowering them to adopt sustainable and resilient practices to secure their livelihoods.

Shri Vishal also highlighted the role of platforms like the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) framework, the Single Window System, the Kisan Sathi Service Portal, and the Kisan Suvidha App in streamlining processes and providing necessary support to farmers, thereby empowering them.

Principal Secretary of Animal Husbandry and Dairy, Dr. Samit Sharma, focused on the need for entrepreneurs to harness the potential of by-products like dung and cow urine from dairy and animal husbandry. He noted that investing in these areas could present significant opportunities for innovation, economic growth, and job creation, while also contributing to sustainable practices in the sector.

National Dairy Development Board Chairman, Dr. Minesh Shah, shared insights from the industry. Additionally, progressive farmer from Jaipur, Shri Surendra Awana, Padma Shri awardee progressive farmer Sundaram Verma, and other innovative farmers shared their experiences and achievements in agricultural innovation and organic farming during the pre-summit.

Around 350 investors and speakers participated in the pre-summit, which also included two plenary sessions. The first session focused on “Promoting Allied Sectors and Food Processing to Double Farmers’ Income,” while the second session discussed “Technological Innovation and Digital Transformation in Agriculture and Allied Sectors.”

The Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit 2024 will be held from December 9-11 in Jaipur. It is being organized by the Rajasthan government in collaboration with the Department of Industries and Commerce, the Bureau of Investment Promotion (BIP), and the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO).