PM bats for new farm laws, says age-old barriers between agri and related sectors will be broken, farmers' income will be doubled

Batting for the agri laws against which at least 50,000 farmers across the country are staging protests  at Delhi's Singhu, Tikri, Ghazipur and Chilla (Delhi-Noida) border points for almost two weeks, the Prime Minister said the growth in one sector stimulates development in other sectors.

Modi said the farmers will be unshackled from limitations, getting access to markets that have so far remained out of their reach.

Addressing the 93rd Annual Convention of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry virtually, the PM said it is worth imagining what would happen if unnecessary walls are erected between industries.

The growth of all the industries will be hindered and no industry will grow as fast as it should, he stated.

"Now farmers are free to sell their produce anywhere. They also have the option to sell their produce digitally. These developments aim at increasing the income of the farmers of India," he said.

The PM said rural India is witnessing a major transformation under the current government, one of the indicators being active internet connections in rural areas now accounting for more than urban India.

"Agriculture and its related sectors such as agricultural infrastructure, food processing, storage, cold chains had been separated by walls. Now these barriers are being lifted. These reforms will put the farmers in an advantageous position with new markets, advantages of technology, and attract investments. It is my country's farmers who will benefit the most from all this," he said.

Stressing on the need to break barriers between different sectors, the Prime Minister said there is a need to build bridges instead of separating them with walls.

He appealed to the industry players to make investments in small towns and villages because the growth in the 21st century will come from these pockets. Unfortunately the private sector has not focused on agriculture as much as it should have, he said.