Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated on Saturday the pilot project of the World’s largest food safety net program under the National Food Security Act to strengthen food safety, reduce waste and empower farmers through Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) in 11 districts of 11 states, including Khilpara PACS in Udaipur in Tripura, where a food grain godown will be set up.
Finance Minister of Tripura Pranajit Singha Roy along with other dignitaries was present at the Khilpara PACS today. Singha thanked PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for setting up food grain godown at Khilpara PACS.
Speaking at the virtual inauguration event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that under the World’s largest food safety net program, 700 lakh metric tons of food safety stock would be created across the country in the next five years.
He said that this mega project would require an expenditure of Rs 1 lakh 25 thousand crore in the coming years.
Besides, the Prime Minister launched multiple initiatives and established a foundation for strengthening and promoting small and marginal farmers’ empowerment.
As part of this, the Prime Minister inaugurated the computerization of 18,000 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) under the National Food Security Act.
He laid foundation stone of more 500 warehouses and other agricultural infrastructure development projects in the entire country.
The objective of this initiative is to make the PACS godowns operational with food safety, ensure food safety, and promote economic development in the country.
PM Modi emphasized the importance of the agriculture sector in the country’s development. He said that the agriculture sector could play a vital role in promoting natural farming, increasing the supply of food grains, pulses, and oilseeds, and promoting ethanol production.
The Prime Minister said the government has set a target of forming two lakh Samabay Samiti groups. He also mentioned that the government has ensured the participation of women in the sector by ensuring their rights.
At the event, the Union Cooperative Minister Amit Shah said the government has taken several important initiatives to strengthen the cooperative sector in the country.
He said the computerization of 18,000 PACS will assist the cooperative sector and farmers in modernizing the agricultural sector.
Shah asserted, with the help of the expanded network of the PACS, 100 percent crop storage facility will be created in the country by 2027.