The seven-point development plan, formulated by the Centre to double farmers’ income by 2022, suggests using online trading to avoid the benefit loss through middlemen.

The plan, which is part of the Central Government’s New India Movement (2017-22), was explained to the farmers in Ernakulam district at a function held the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute.

The development plan urges farmers to utilise the e-NAM (National Agriculture Market) scheme launched by the Centre for trading their farmed crops with a better price. As many as 455 trading centres have been interlinked with this scheme to make this as a unified national market for agricultural commodities.

To increase farmers’ income, it was proposed to make use of latest mobile and internet services such as Kisan Suvidha App developed by the Government to know weather conditions, market price and to get other advisories.

The plan also wants the farmers to derive full benefits of institutional loan scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to reduce risk and to get comprehensive relief from crop losses due to natural calamities.

It also suggests increased production through improved seeds, planting materials and organic farming to double farmers’ income. In addition, it is proposed that allied activities of agriculture like dairy development, poultry, beekeeping, fisheries, agro-forestry and integrated farming system should be strengthened by using various schemes of the government.

The plan urges the farmers to link with food processing interventions of the government to strengthen value addition and thereby developing their capabilities to get better employment opportunities.

Pravin Puthra, Additional Director General of Indian Council of Agriculture (ICAR) explained the seven-point development plan.

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