New Delhi, Aug 9 (TIWN) As the pandemic severely hits the economy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the rural economy of India is on a strong footing, bucking the overall economic slowdown, courtesy the 'record' procurement of farmers' produce by the government.

Speaking at the launch programme of the Rs 1 lakh crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, Modi said it was due to the farmers that the country did not have to face problems in terms of essential food items during the lockdown.

“When the country was under lockdown, our farmers were harvesting their crop and were also making new records in terms of sowing,” he said.

Prime Minister added that the government assured record public procurement of the farmers’ produce, leading to an increase of Rs 27,000 crore in the money transferred to the farmers.

Talking of the recent decisions to end the Essential Commodities Act and freeing the farmers from the limitations of selling at the APMC of a concerned state, he said that these decisions will change the scenario of rural economy in the country and will also lead to multiple increase in farmers’ income.