In a move toward inclusivity, the Centre invited 1,500 farmers and their spouses to watch the Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path as special guests this year.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare invited farmers who are the recipients of various government schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, to watch the 75th Republic Day parade which was held today.
Following the parade, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Tribal Affairs, Arjun Munda met farmers and expressed his gratitude for their crucial role in the economy.
Before the Republic Day celebration, farmers attended a training session on January 25, where they were briefed about key government initiatives such as Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Mechanization and Technology (M&T), National Seeds Corporation, and Per Drop More Crop, coupled with a field visit to PUSA Campus.
This is not the first time farmers were invited to a grand celebration of national importance; around 500 Farmer Producer Organisations from 22 States and a Union Territory were invited as special guests to witness the Independence Day Ceremony at Red Fort last year as well.
This move was taken to honor the contribution of farmers and the agriculture industry toward the country’s economic growth. Ahead of the interim budget, in another event on January 25, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at Delhi University’s Hindu College expressed similar thoughts that the government is looking forward to boosting the agriculture and manufacturing sectors to make the Indian economy stronger.
