A three-day Advanced Agriculture Festival is currently taking place in Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh, drawing interest from farmers nationwide. The event features a range of agricultural innovations and modern practices aimed at educating farmers on the benefits of incorporating these advancements into their daily farming routines. Indian agriculture is undergoing a rapid modernization phase, with a shift towards technology-driven practices to boost field productivity.
The festival serves as a platform for farmers to explore modern agricultural machinery, new technologies, and advanced farming methods. Both the central and state governments are actively promoting this transition towards modern practices and are informing farmers about various schemes and programs available to support them. The National Horticulture Board is implementing special schemes to promote horticulture, offering financial assistance to farmers for cultivating fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, and medicinal plants.
Under the ‘PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises’ (PMFME) scheme, small farmers are achieving self-reliance with a 35% subsidy on project costs for setting up or expanding food processing units. This initiative not only supports farmers but also generates employment opportunities in rural areas. Additionally, farmers are being incentivized with subsidies for constructing protected cultivation structures like polyhouses, greenhouses, and shade nets, as well as for open-field cultivation of crops such as mango, guava, and amla.
The National Horticulture Mission is another program offering subsidies of 40-55% through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to farmers for adopting drip irrigation, high-quality planting material, and modern technologies. Special incentives are provided for cultivating new crops like dragon fruit, emphasizing the government’s commitment to promoting sustainable and advanced farming practices.
