Vanakkam!

Governor of Tamil Nadu R.N. Ravi ji, my colleague in the Union Cabinet L. Murugan ji, former Vice Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Dr. K. Ramasamy ji, all the distinguished dignitaries from various agricultural organizations, other public representatives present here, my dear farmer brothers and sisters, and lakhs of farmers from across the country who have joined us through digital technology! I greet all of you with Vanakkam and Namaskar. First of all, I want to apologize to all of you here and to all my farmer brothers and sisters across the country. I am almost an hour late in reaching here because earlier today I was in Puttaparthi for a program dedicated to Sathya Sai Baba, and the event there went on longer than expected. That caused a delay in my arrival. I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. I am seeing that many people across the country have been waiting, so I seek your forgiveness.

When I was listening to Pandian ji’s speech, I felt that it would have been wonderful if someone had taught me Tamil in my childhood so that I could have enjoyed his speech even more. But I did not have that good fortune. Still, whatever I was able to understand, I could sense he was speaking about Jallikattu and also referring to the difficulties faced during the COVID period. I have requested Ravi ji to send me Pandian ji’s speech translated into Hindi and English. I would like to read it. But I was able to fully feel and absorb his emotions, and it was a very special moment for me. When I came onto the stage here, I noticed many farmer brothers and sisters waving their gamchas. It felt as if the breeze of Bihar had reached here even before I arrived.

My dear farmer brothers and sisters,

On this sacred land of Coimbatore, first of all, I bow to Lord Murugan of Marudhamalai. Coimbatore is the land of culture, compassion, and creativity. This city is the power centre of South Bharat’s entrepreneurial strength. Its textile sector is a major contributor to our country's economy. And now, Coimbatore has become even more special because its former MP, C.P. Radhakrishnan ji, is now guiding us all in the role of Vice President.

Friends,

Natural farming is a subject very close to my heart. I congratulate all the farmer brothers and sisters of Tamil Nadu for organizing this extraordinary South India Natural Farming Summit. I had the opportunity to visit the exhibition just now and interact with many farmers. Some have completed mechanical engineering and PhDs and then chosen farming. Some have left prestigious work related to Chandrayaan in NASA and come back to farming. Not only are they cultivating themselves, they are also training many other farmers and young people. Today, I must publicly acknowledge that if I had not come to this event, I would have missed something very important in my life. I have learned so much here today. I wholeheartedly salute the courage of the farmers of Tamil Nadu and their strength to embrace change. Here, farmer brothers and sisters, agricultural scientists, industry partners, start-ups and innovators have all come together. I warmly congratulate all of you.

Friends,

I see many major changes taking place in Indian agriculture in the coming years. Bharat is on the path to becoming the global hub of natural farming. Our biodiversity is taking a new shape, and the youth of our country now see agriculture as a modern, scalable opportunity. This is going to give tremendous strength to the rural economy of our nation.

My farmer brothers and sisters,

In the last 11 years, the entire agriculture sector of the country has undergone a massive transformation. Our agricultural exports have nearly doubled. To modernize farming, the government has opened every possible avenue to support farmers. Farmers have received more than 10 lakh crore rupees in assistance this year alone through the Kisan Credit Card. This figure of 10 lakh crore rupees is extremely significant. After livestock farmers and fishermen were also included under the KCC scheme seven years ago, they too have greatly benefited from it. Reducing GST on bio-fertilizers has also brought substantial advantages to farmers.

Friends,

Just a short while ago, we released the next instalment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi for the farmers of the country from here. Farmers across the country have received 18,000 crore rupees directly in their accounts. Here in Tamil Nadu too, lakhs of farmers have received money under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme.

Friends,

So far, 4 lakh crore rupees has been directly transferred to the bank accounts of small farmers across the country under this scheme. This amount has helped farmers fulfil various agriculture-related needs. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the crores of farmer brothers and sisters who are beneficiaries of this scheme. There are two young girls standing at the back holding placards for a long time. Their hands will get tired. I request the security personnel to collect the placards from them and give them to me. Whatever message they have, I will take it very seriously. Please collect it and bring it to me.

Friends,

Thank you, daughter. You were standing with your hand raised for such a long time.

Friends,

The expansion of natural farming is the need of 21st-century agriculture. Over the years, the use of chemicals has rapidly increased in fields and in many agriculture-related sectors due to rising demand. Soil fertility is declining due to excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, soil moisture is being affected, and along with all this, the cost of farming keeps increasing every year. The solution to this lies in crop diversification and natural farming.

Friends,

We must move forward on the path of natural farming to restore the fertility of our soil and the nutritional value of our crops. This is both our vision and our necessity. Only then will we be able to preserve our biodiversity for future generations. Natural farming helps us face climate change and the shifts in weather patterns. It keeps our soil healthy and protects people from harmful chemicals. Today’s event is going to play a significant role in this direction.

Friends,

Our government is giving huge encouragement to the farmers of Bharat to adopt natural farming. A year ago, the central government launched the National Mission on Natural Farming. Lakhs of farmers have already joined it. Its positive impact is especially visible across South Bharat. Here in Tamil Nadu alone, nearly 35,000 hectares of land are under organic and natural farming.

Friends,

Natural farming is an indigenous concept of Bharat. We have not imported it from anywhere. It is born from our own traditions. Our ancestors developed it with great dedication, and it is perfectly aligned with our environment. I am happy that the farmers of South Bharat continue to follow traditional methods of natural farming such as Panchagavya, Jeevamrit, Beejamrit, Aachadan etc. These practices improve soil health, keep crops chemical-free, and significantly reduce input costs.

Friends,

When we combine natural farming with the cultivation of Shri Anna–millets, it also plays a crucial role in protecting Mother Earth. In Tamil Nadu, even Lord Murugan is offered thenum thinai maavum — a sacred offering made from honey and millets. Kambu and samai in Tamil regions, Ragi in Kerala and Karnataka, and sajja and jonna in Telugu-speaking states have been part of our diet for generations. Our government is making efforts to ensure that this superfood reaches global markets. Natural farming and chemical-free farming are going to play a major role in enhancing their global acceptance. Therefore, I believe that the efforts related to this topic must certainly be discussed in this summit.

Friends,

I have always encouraged multiculture agriculture instead of monoculture. We get great inspiration for this from many regions of South Bharat. If we go to the hilly areas of Kerala or Karnataka, we can see examples of multi-storey agriculture. In a single field, there are coconut trees, areca nut trees, and fruit plants. Below them, spices and black pepper are cultivated. This means that multiple crops can be grown in a small area, with proper planning. This is the fundamental philosophy of natural farming. We must take this model of farming to the pan-India level. I would also urge state governments to consider how these practices can be implemented in different regions of the country.

Friends,

South India has been a living university of agriculture. The world’s oldest functioning dams were built in this region. The Kalingarayan Canal was built here in the 13th century. The temple ponds here became models of decentralized water conservation systems. This land developed a scientific model of controlling river water and using it for farming. This region displayed advanced water engineering thousands of years ago. Therefore, I firmly believe that the leadership in natural farming for the country and the world will also emerge from this region.

Friends,

We must all work together to build a futuristic agriculture ecosystem for a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India). I urge my farmer brothers and sisters across the country, especially my farmer friends in Tamil Nadu, to start with one acre in one season. Meaning, try natural farming on just one acre in one season. You choose a corner of your field and experiment. Based on the results, expand it next year, expand it further the third year, and keep moving ahead. I also request all scientists and research institutions to make natural farming a core part of the agricultural curriculum. Go to villages, make farmers’ fields your laboratories. We must transform natural farming into a science-backed movement. The role of state governments and FPOs is extremely important in this campaign of natural farming. In the past few years, 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) have been formed in the country. With the help of FPOs, we can create small clusters of farmers. We should provide cleaning, packaging, and processing facilities locally. We should connect them directly to online markets like e-NAM. This will greatly increase the benefits for farmers engaged in natural farming. When the traditional knowledge of our farmers, the power of science, and government support come together, then not only will our farmers prosper, but our Mother Earth will also remain healthy.

Friends,

I firmly believe that this summit and especially the leadership shown by our farmer brothers and sisters will give a new direction to natural farming in the country. New ideas and new solutions will emerge from here. With this hope, I once again extend my heartfelt best wishes to all of you. Thank you very much!

Please join me in saying:

Bharat Mata ki Jai!

Bharat Mata ki Jai!

Bharat Mata ki Jai!

Thank you very much!

 

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MJPS/VJ/VK/AK

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