Agriculture

The minister said that as Sri Lanka moves forward, the challenge remains clear: finding sustainable, humane solutions that protect both livelihoods and biodiversity for future generations.

Choudhary said that to assist states in regulating groundwater resources, the ministry of Jal Shakti drafted a Model ‘Groundwater (Regulation and Control of Development and Management) Bill.’ This bill provides a regulatory framework to curb indiscriminate groundwater extraction while promoting rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge.

By training villagers in digital skills and providing them with the tools to access government services, these initiatives improve livelihoods and foster a sense of empowerment in rural communities.

A gene bank serves as a biorepository for preserving genetic material, such as seeds, pollen, and tissue samples, collected from various plant species. The primary objective is to protect these valuable resources from extinction and support research, conservation, and breeding efforts.

Omar Abdullah, the head of the Kashmir government, stated that Kashmir is facing a severe threat from climate change, particularly in the form of a water crisis. He stressed the need for greater awareness and action.

Given the complex history of water disputes between the two nations, continued diplomatic engagement and technical collaboration will be essential in ensuring a fair and sustainable solution for both sides, officials say.

Minister of state for agriculture Ashish Jaiswal, who also attended the Nagpur event, emphasised the critical role of these assured funds in providing relief to farmers facing persistent financial challenges.

PM Modi expressed satisfaction that the PM-KISAN scheme, which has now disbursed nearly ₹22,000 crore in this instalment alone, has proven invaluable to small farmers nationwide.