ZILLAR BARTA DESK, BANASKANTHA, GUJARAT: Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a heartwarming moment during his two-day visit to Gujarat, as a special gesture involving a farmer attracted attention. The Prime Minister's decision to wear a jacket gifted to him by a farmer added a personal touch to his visit and highlighted his interaction with people associated with the agricultural community.
The moment has drawn interest amid the Prime Minister's visit to Banaskantha district, where he participated in several programmes focused on agriculture, dairy development, rural infrastructure and economic growth. His visit on October 30 and 31, 2026, includes the inauguration and foundation-laying of development projects worth thousands of crores of rupees.
The jacket gifted by the farmer became a memorable highlight of the interaction. By wearing the gift, Prime Minister Modi brought attention to the personal connection between public representatives and ordinary citizens.
Such gestures often carry significance beyond their material value, particularly when they reflect appreciation for the contribution of farmers and rural communities.
The agricultural sector remains an important part of India's economy, supporting millions of families and contributing significantly to food production, employment and rural livelihoods.
The Prime Minister's Gujarat visit has a strong focus on strengthening the agricultural and dairy sectors.
On October 30, Modi is scheduled to dedicate the Bharat Bovine Breeding and Research Centre at Bhildi in Banaskantha to the nation. Spread across 127 acres, the facility is designed to support scientific breeding, genetic improvement and advanced reproductive technologies, particularly for the Kankrej cattle breed.
He is also scheduled to lay the foundation stones for two Bio-CNG plants of Banas Dairy at Tharad and Radhanpur. These facilities will process cattle dung and promote the productive utilisation of agricultural and dairy waste.
The initiatives are aimed at supporting dairy farmers, improving cattle productivity and creating additional economic opportunities in rural areas.
Another major highlight of the visit is the release of the 24th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme.
According to the Prime Minister's Office, approximately ₹19,000 crore will be transferred to eligible farmers across the country through the instalment.
The scheme provides direct financial assistance to eligible landholding farmer families, helping them meet agricultural and household expenses.
The Prime Minister will also mark the commencement of on-ground activities under 12 approved horticulture clusters. Covering approximately 1.46 lakh hectares, the clusters are expected to benefit more than 1.3 lakh farmers. Two clusters in North Gujarat will focus on potato cultivation.
The visit also highlights the government's focus on strengthening agricultural infrastructure, including cold storage facilities, warehouses, processing centres, greenhouses and integrated supply chains.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to dedicate 521 projects completed under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, involving a combined project cost of approximately ₹4,950 crore.
The expansion of a potato processing plant at Sanadar and the commissioning of an automated storage and retrieval system for ultra-high-temperature products at Palanpur are also part of the programme.
These projects are expected to strengthen storage and processing facilities and support farmers in accessing better agricultural value chains.
Beyond the jacket moment, the Prime Minister's Gujarat visit carries a broader focus on agricultural modernisation, dairy development, rural connectivity and economic infrastructure.
His programmes in Banaskantha underline the importance of combining traditional farming activities with modern technology, scientific research and improved market access.
The personal gesture involving the farmer's gift has added a human dimension to the visit, bringing attention to the relationship between India's leadership and the farming community.
As Gujarat prepares for the remaining programmes of the Prime Minister's visit, agriculture, dairy development and rural prosperity remain central themes of the engagements.
