Vice President of India launches India’s first non-GMO, high-yield popcorn maize hybrid seed in Andhra Pradesh
Raja Pentapati – AP Bureau Chief
Amaravati August 24th Bharat Digital news
. National News
Farmers are the backbone of the country and agriculture has shaped India’s civilized and cultural life. He stressed the importance of technology, innovation and development of indigenous seeds in strengthening Indian agriculture.
Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan today launched India’s first non-GMO, high-expansion popcorn maize hybrid seed at Musunur, Eluru district, Andhra Pradesh.
Addressing the launch, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan said that India has been dependent on imported hybrid technology for years for high-quality popcorn maize.
He said that this new indigenous hybrid is an important step towards reducing such dependence and saving foreign exchange. He praised Gourmet Popcornica and the farmers for developing an Indian solution grown on Indian soil, with the potential to compete in global markets.
The Vice President appreciated the farmer-centric initiatives of the Central Government like PM-KISAN, PM Fasal Bima Yojana, National Food Security and Nutrition Mission and Namo Drone Didi.
He praised Chief Minister Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu for taking forward visionary initiatives in the areas of agriculture and rural development, especially farmers’ bazaars, horticulture, promotion of organic farming and farmer-centric support systems.
Describing the scope of farmer-institution partnerships, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan said that over 17,500 farmers across eight states, cultivating nearly 40,000 acres, have become partners in the Gourmet Popcornica journey.
Shri S.B.P. He lauded Pattabhi Rama Rao and Gourmet Popcornica for their rise to become a major popcorn processing company, strengthening market access and income opportunities for thousands of farmer families.
The Vice President said that a developed India is built from the soil cultivated by farmers, from the seeds perfected by scientists and industrialists, and from self-reliance strengthened acre by acre. He said that the ‘Musunuru’ programme is proving how innovation, entrepreneurship and farmer partnerships can come together to further strengthen the agriculture sector, make it self-sufficient and globally competitive.
During his visit, the Vice President also visited the Gourmet Popcornica factory and cold storage facility. There, he was briefed on maize processing, quality control, packaging and storage.
The programme was attended by Andhra Pradesh Governor Shri S. Abdul Nazeer, Chief Minister Shri N Chandrababu Naidu, Andhra Pradesh Government Ministers Shri Nara Lokesh, Shri Kinjarapu Atchannaidu and Shri Kolusu Parthasarathy along with other dignitaries and representatives of Gourmet Popcornica were present.
Swacha Andhra Pradesh