New Delhi

Narendra Modi on Friday urged farmers and stakeholders to leverage India’s diverse agro-climatic conditions to enhance productivity and boost exports, stressing the need to make Indian agricultural products globally competitive.

Addressing a post-Budget webinar on Agriculture and Rural Transformation, the prime minister called for a unified approach involving experts, industry and farmers to meet global quality and branding standards while connecting local producers with international markets.

“Today the world markets are opening and global demand patterns are shifting. It is necessary to have more discussion on making our agriculture export-oriented. We have a diverse climate and must take full advantage of it. We are rich in agro-climatic zones,” Modi said.

He said export-oriented agricultural production would create new employment opportunities in rural areas through food processing and value addition.

Highlighting provisions in the Union Budget 2026–27, Modi said the government is focusing on high-value agriculture, including crops such as cashew, cocoa and sandalwood.

He also referred to initiatives such as the National Mission on Edible Oil, the National Mission on Pulses and the National Mission on Natural Farming aimed at strengthening the agriculture sector.

Modi further highlighted the proposal to promote Agarwood cultivation in the North East and temperate nut crops in the Himalayan states.

“If we scale high-value agriculture together, it will transform agriculture into a globally competitive sector,” he said.

The prime minister noted that rising global awareness about health and holistic wellness is increasing demand for organic and natural food products.

“We must place greater emphasis on chemical-free and natural farming. Natural farming creates a highway to reach markets across the world,” he added.

Stressing agriculture’s importance in India’s long-term development journey, Modi said the government has continuously strengthened the sector.

“Nearly 10 crore farmers have received more than ₹4 lakh crore through the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi. This year’s Union Budget gives a strong push to agriculture and rural transformation,” he said.

On fisheries, the prime minister said India is the world’s second-largest fish producer, with around 4.5 lakh tonnes of fish produced in reservoirs and ponds, adding that there is potential for an additional 20 lakh tonnes of production.

“Fisheries can become a major platform for export growth,” he said, highlighting opportunities under the Blue Economy.

Modi also called for new business models in hatcheries, feed and logistics to unlock the sector’s potential.

“This can become a high-value, high-impact sector for rural prosperity,” he said.

To reduce risks in agriculture, the prime minister emphasised crop diversification and urged states to fulfil their budgetary responsibilities.

He also stressed the importance of integrating technology with traditional farming practices and sought suggestions on effectively bringing a “technology culture” into agriculture.

Referring to the Lakhpati Didi Scheme campaign, Modi set a target of creating three crore more successful women entrepreneurs by 2029.

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He urged entrepreneurs to invest more in storage infrastructure and innovation in agri-fintech and supply chains to energise the rural economy.