Addressing the convocation of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa at its Piprakothi campus in Motihari, Bihar's East Champaran district, Naidu stated that the sector should be offered all the assistance it requires for development and sustenance.
Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) can greatly assist small and marginal farmers with forward (processing, marketing, and export) and backward (input and extension services) food supply chain linkages, according to him.
He emphasized the need of promoting FPOs through mentoring and capacity building.
He encouraged agriculture institutes to encourage farmers to create collectives, claiming that there is a lot of potential for food processing in India.
"Marginal and small farmers with little resources characterize Indian agriculture. Farmers' income must be increased through a variety of means, including enhanced resource use efficiency," Naidu added. The vice president also urged for increased use of technology in agriculture.
"The developed world is already reaping benefits from the use of Artificial Intelligence in agriculture, and India, too, must harness its potential to help enhance agricultural revenue," he added.
Naidu praised the country's record food grain output despite the obstacles faced by the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the country owes a lot to its diligent farmers.
Among those present were Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Governor Phagu Chauhan, and Deputy Chief Minister Renu Devi.
Naidu arrived in Patna on Saturday for a two-day visit to the state.
Who are small and marginal farmers?
Small and marginal farmers are those who own less than 2 hectares of farmland. They comprise for around 86.2 percent of the total farmers in the country.
Marginal Farmers
A farmer who receives a little amount of subsistence wage from his private property but seldom works as an agricultural labour.
A marginal farmer is defined as a peasant farmer with an agricultural tract of up to 1 hectare who farms as an owner, tenant, or share cropper.
Small farmers
A farmer who has an agricultural land of more than one hectare and up to two hectares as an owner, tenant, or share cropper.
