New Delhi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday (Feb 22) that his government was leaving no stone unturned to ensure the welfare of the country's farmers. Prime Minister Modi attended the golden jubilee celebrations celebrations of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) in Ahmedabad. The GCMFF is the producer of Amul's brand of products. 

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Addressing the event, Modi said "We are leaving no stone unturned to ensure farmer welfare. The government has built 60,000+ Amrit Sarovars across the country. This very initiative will not only benefit farmers but will also strengthen the rural economy. Our goal is to provide modern technology and its know-how even to the small farmers of the country."

He added that for the first time, the government has provided Kisan Credit Card facility to cattle farmers and fish farmers. "Our focus is to improve the life of small farmers, to increase the scope of animal husbandry, to improve the health of animals, to encourage animal husbandry as well as pisciculture and beekeeping in the village," the prime minister further said.

Modi's comments on farmers were his first since the farmers' protests began last week against the central government. Farmers have been attempting to march to New Delhi as part of their 'Delhi Chalo' (Let's Go to Delhi) campaign demanding legally binding higher prices for their crops, among other things.

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On Wednesday, the farmers' unions said they were pausing their campaign for two days following the death of a protester. 

'Today India is the largest milk producing nation globally'

During the event in Ahmedabad, PM Modi also said on Thursday that India is the largest milk-producing country in the world, and 80 million people are associated with the nation's dairy sector. 

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"In the last 10 years alone, milk production in India has increased by about 60 per cent. Per capita milk availability has also increased by 40 per cent in the last decade," Modi said. 

Also read | 'Historic increase in price': PM Modi lauds cabinet's hike in sugarcane FRP

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Modi began his two-day visit to Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh on Thursday. Apart from attending the golden jubilee celebrations celebrations of the GCMMF, he will unveil development projects in Gujarat worth over $2.75 billion (Rs 22,850 crore). 

The projects will encompass important sectors like road, rail, energy, health, internet connectivity, urban development, water supply, tourism etc., in districts like Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Banaskantha, Anand, Mahesana, Kachchh, Kheda, Bharuch, Tapi, Vadodara, Surat, Navsari, Panchmahal, Valsad, and Narmada.

On Friday, the prime minister will reach Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi to take part in a prize distribution programme at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU). He would lay the foundation stone of developmental projects worth over $1.56 billion (Rs 13,000 crore) in the city.