Noida: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday praised farmers for driving a “new phase of development” in Uttar Pradesh, emphasising their pivotal role in ethanol production and providing “huge relief” to the country amid global economic uncertainty.

Speaking after inaugurating Phase 1 of the Noida International Airport in Jewar, PM Modi highlighted the transformative impact of enhanced connectivity on the region’s agricultural economy.

“The expansion of modern connectivity taking place here will further strengthen the possibilities of food processing in western Uttar Pradesh. Now, agricultural produce from this region will be able to reach global markets in a much better way,” he said, addressing a large public gathering.

He also expressed gratitude to farmers for their contribution to India’s ethanol production. “I would also like to express my gratitude to the farmers for another important reason. The ethanol produced from your sugarcane has reduced the country's dependence on crude oil. The hard work of our farmers has given the country such a huge relief at a time of global crisis,” he added.

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PM Modi noted that without increased ethanol blending, India would have needed to import nearly 45 million barrels of crude oil annually, equivalent to approximately seven billion litres.

Acknowledging the farmers’ support for infrastructure development, he said, “Agriculture and farming hold great importance in the economy of this region. Today, I would like to express my special gratitude to my farmer brothers and sisters who contributed to making this project a reality by giving their land.”

Highlighting India’s resilience in challenging times, the Prime Minister pointed to recent infrastructure milestones, including the foundation stone for a semiconductor factory in Noida, progress on the Delhi–Meerut Namo Bharat train project, expansion of the Meerut Metro, and the Noida International Airport inauguration.

PM Modi also emphasised the success of the UDAN scheme, noting that over 1.7 crore citizens have flown at affordable fares. Under the expanded UDAN initiative, the government plans to develop 100 new small airports and 200 heliports across smaller towns, with significant benefits expected for Uttar Pradesh.

The Prime Minister highlighted rapid growth in India’s aviation sector, with increasing demand for aircraft and related manpower. “The arrival of new airports and aircraft will create vast employment opportunities for pilots, crew, ground staff, and maintenance professionals. To prepare youth for these opportunities, our government is expanding aviation training facilities nationwide,” he said.

With farmers driving ethanol production, modern infrastructure enhancing connectivity, and strategic initiatives in aviation, PM Modi positioned India’s growth trajectory as resilient, inclusive, and globally competitive. IANS