The biggest challenge before the nation at present was to take the contribution of the agriculture sector in the Gross Domestic Product to 22 per cent, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Saturday.

Addressing the Dr CD Mayee Krishi awards function here, he said minimum support price (MSP) of certain crops was higher than the market rate and the Union government had to shell out Rs 1.50 lakh crore due to this to procure farm produce.

Asserting that farmers must adopt new technology to boost yields, he said they must also contribute in the production of green hydrogen and ethanol.

Drone spraying would reduce expenditure for farmers and must be adopted by the sector, he added.

-With PTI input