With an aim to substantially increase farmers’ income, agricultural sustainability and strengthen the overall rural economy, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a number of measures and ambitious plans in her budget. Rs 2.37 lakh crore will be transferred towards direct payments for the minimum support price (MSP) to wheat and paddy farmers from across the country. At the same time, substantial technological interventions have also been pushed into action to bring prosperity and sustainability to rural life.
Under technological intervention, the government will promote kisan drones, chemical-free natural farming, and public-private partnerships for the timely delivery of digital and high-tech services to farmers during 2022-23.
In her budget speech delivered in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister said that inclusive development is one of the four priorities of the government and as part of this mission, the Centre will encourage the use of ‘Kisan Drones’ for various purposes including crop assessment, digitisation of land records and spraying of insecticides.
Finance Minister said that the government will also facilitate a fund with blended capital to be raised under the co-investment model through NABARD, a financial institution helping rural economy. This fund will be utilized for agriculture-related start-ups and rural enterprises relevant for farm produce value chain.
FM Sitharaman that these start-ups will include inter-area support for farmer-producer organisations (FPOs), machineries for farmers on a rental basis at farm level and relevant technologies. Through these means, the government aims at promoting chemical-free natural farming throughout the country with a clear focus on farmers’ lands in five-kilometer wide corridors along the river Ganga in the first stage.
A rationalised and comprehensive scheme to increase domestic production of oilseeds will also be implemented to reduce the country’s dependence on imports of edible oils. The government will also launch a scheme in PPP mode with public sector research institutions and private agri-tech players and stakeholders of agriculture value chains for the efficient and timely delivery of digital and high-tech services to farmers.
Elaborating government’s ambitious plan, the FM Sitharaman said – to achieve this objective, states would be encouraged to revise curriculums of agricultural universities so that they could be able to meet the needs of natural zero budget and organic farming, modern-day agriculture, value addition and management.
Since, 2023 has been announced as the International Year of Millets, FM Sitharaman said that the government will support post-harvest for enhancing domestic consumption of millet products internationally. The Finance Minister also said that the government will bring in policies and legislative changes to promote agroforestry and private forestry. Besides, financial support will also be provided to farmers belonging to SC and ST, who wish to take up agroforestry.
Know more about agricultural moves of the government in pointers –
-Govt to pay Rs 2.37 lakh crore towards procurement of wheat and paddy under MSP operations
– 2022-23 has been announced as International Year of Millets
– Railways will develop new products for small farmers and MSMEs
– A rationalised scheme to increase domestic oilseed production will be brought in to cut down imports
– Kisan Drones for crop assessment, land records, spraying of insecticides expected to drive a wave of technology in agri sector
– Ken Betwa river linking project worth Rs 44,605 crore announced
– Draft DPRs for 5 river links have been finalised
– Finance start-ups to be incentives to aid rural enterprises
– Natural farming will be promoted along Ganga river corridor
– A completely paperless, e-bill system will be launched by ministries for procurement
– Financial support will be provided to farmers to take up agro-forestry
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