Budget 2024: Government Allots Rs 1.52 Lakh Crore For Agriculture Sector
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on July 23 tabled the Union Budget 2024 in the Lok Sabha. While presenting the Budget, the finance minister announced that Rs 1.52 lakh crore will be allotted for agriculture.
The finance minister has announced that in the next two years, one crore farmers will be initiated in natural farming. She also outlined the initiatives with a focus on sustainable practices, digital infrastructure, and increased production.
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Ms. Sitharaman also announced that 109 high-yielding and climate-resilient varieties of 32 fields and horticulture crops will be released for cultivation by the farmers.
This government initiative towards natural farming is for promoting sustainable agricultural practices and reducing dependency on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Rs 2.66 lakh crore will be provided for rural development, Nirmala Sitharaman said.
She further added that the government will do a comprehensive review of the agricultural research set-up to raise productivity and develop climate-resilient varieties.
Domain experts will oversee the conduct of this research to ensure its effectiveness and relevance, it was announced.
Assisting the implementation, 10,000 need biased bio-input centres to be established and strengthen production, storage, marketing of oil-seeds.
The finance minister has announced that the government would facilitate the implementation of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in agriculture, in partnership with the states.
The Digital survey for Kharif will be taken up in 400 districts and issuance of Jan Samarth-based Kisan Credit Cards to be enabled in five states, it announced.
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“Financial support for setting up a network of Nucleus Breeding Centres for Shrimp Broodstocks to be provided and National Cooperation Policy will be framed with an objective to Fast-tracking growth of rural economy and generation of employment opportunities,” Nirmala Sitharaman said.
