Bhubaneswar, February 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed one Hirod Patel, a young farmer from Odisha, during the 131st episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat'.

Modi praised Patel for his remarkable achievements in the field farming sector.

Talking about his journey, Modi said, “The story of a young farmer named Hirod Patel in Odisha is truly inspiring. Until about eight years ago, he cultivated paddy in the traditional way with his father, Shiv Shankar Patel, but then, he began to approach farming from a new perspective. He built a strong mesh structure over his farm's pond. He grew creeper vegetables on it, planted bananas, guavas, and coconuts around the pond, and also started fish farming in the pond.”

“In other words, traditional farming, vegetables, fruits, and fish are all being undertaken in one place. This has led to better land use, water savings, and additional income. Today, farmers from far and wide come over to see his model,” said Modi.

“Our farmers are not just food providers... they are true devotees of the earth. One should learn from our farmers what it is to turn soil into gold. And our farmers today are blending both tradition and technology, and I am pleased to see that our farmers are now focusing not just on production but also on quality, value addition, and new markets,” noted the Prime Minister.