Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday inaugurated the Farmers Training and Common Facility Centre and a new agro-processing unit in Raichur, Karnataka. She assured farmers of full government support to boost agricultural income and strengthen the pulse value chain.
Speaking at the event, she highlighted initiatives like soil health cards, financial assistance, fertilisers, and increased MSP for foodgrains and pulses. Sitharaman noted that the new processing unit can handle 133 metric tonnes of tur, 100 metric tonnes of chickpeas, and 76 metric tonnes of mixed pulses annually, enabling farmers to get better prices and reduce dependency on middlemen.
The minister emphasised that this initiative will empower farmers, support farmer producer organisations (FPOs), promote holistic rural development, and create sustainable livelihoods for self-help groups and rural entrepreneurs. The programme aims to make the Raichur district’s agricultural ecosystem robust and market-driven, enhancing production quality and shelf life of pulses.
Earlier, Sitharaman interacted with over 60 interns of the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) in Hampi. She engaged with representatives from companies like Infosys, IBM, TCS, HAL, and NMDC, encouraging interns on professional growth, skills development, and contributions to India’s development journey.
