Virendra Singh Rawat / Lucknow
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reached out to the farmers in the Jat land of Western Uttar Pradesh, which had witnessed widespread protests over now annulled central farm laws.
Addressing a public meeting after laying the foundation of Rs 700 crore Major Dhyan Chand Sports University in Meerut district, Modi said the Centre had allocated Rs one trillion towards ramping up agricultural infrastructure, storage houses and cold chain network to benefit small farmers.
“We have accorded priority to improving the farm infrastructure and promoting food processing industries,” he said while stressing that the ‘double engine’ government would ensure the development of the entire Western UP and the youth of the region.
Since Western UP is also known as the sugar bowl due to the extensive cane cultivation, Modi flayed the previous governments for delayed and staggered payments pertaining to the cash crop.
“Under the Yogi government, the total payments made so far is more than the combined payout to the cane farmers during the previous two regimes in UP,” he underlined.
The PM alleged the UP sugar mills were earlier sold at throwaway prices, however, new mills are being set up and closed ones revived by the Yogi dispensation.
“UP is taking big strides in the production of ethanol made from sugarcane. In the last four and half years, ethanol worth Rs 12,000 crore has been procured from UP alone,” he said, adding Meerut had played a significant role in the country’s freedom movement.
He maintained the government was taking steps to facilitate the setting up of big industries in UP and create new markets for farm produce.
Modi supports marked linked agri sector
“The country’s youth is making a global mark in both the sports and startup fields. The path that India will take will guide the world to tread the same path and youth have to take the lead in this regard,” he noted.
He said the sports university would be developed as one of the finest varsities in the world. It would churn out more than 1,000 sports professionals every year.