The Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the interim budget before India heads to its Lok Sabha election in May, today, underscored all the accomplishments of the government in the agriculture sector in the past few years. Among these, she highlighted the incorporation of technology and farming sectors, such as the Electronic National Agriculture Market (eNAM), which has integrated mandis, and is providing services to crores of farmers in the country. The platform eNAM is an online platform that facilitates trade in agricultural commodities amongst farmers and traders, to get better price discovery and smooth market transactions.
Technological Integration in Agriculture:
Pointing out the achievements of the government, the finance minister addressed farmers as annadata and said, “Electronic National Agriculture Market has integrated 1,361 mandis and is providing services to 1.8 crore farmers with trading volume of Rs 3 lakh crore”. Further, she said the agriculture sector is poised for inclusive, balanced, higher growth and productivity. These are facilitated by farmer-centric policies, income support, coverage of risks through price and six insurance support, and promotion of technologies and innovations through start-ups.
Not only this, Sitharaman also highlighted the importance of other government schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Yojana (PMKSY) and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). She pointed out farmers’ contribution to producing food for the country and the world.
Direct financial assistance is provided to 11.8 crore farmers, including marginal and small farmers is provided under PMKSY. Also, crop insurance is given to four crore farmers under PMFBY, she said while presenting the interim budget.
Moreover, under the famous “Atmanirbharta’ slogan, the budget speech boasted about achieving self-reliance for oil seeds such as mustard, groundnut, sesame, soybean, and sunflower. This will cover research for high-yielding varieties, widespread adoption of modern farming techniques, market linkages, procurement, value addition, and crop insurance.
Boosting Farmers' Income and Rural Development:
Further, to show development in the rural economy, the interim budget promised that farmers’ income would be boosted. The Finance Minister said schemes are complementing the efforts for reducing postharvest losses and improving productivity and incomes. According to the budget speech, the goals that are already accomplished in the rural sector include 10 lakh employment generation, benefitting 38 lakh farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana.
