Budget aims to increase agri production

Mumbai: Calling the budget a plan for farmers’ welfare, state finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar proposed allocation of funds for a range of agriculture schemes. The state government allocated around Rs 10,000 crore for irrigation projects which will help to increase the argriculture production. The government also claimed that 62,000 ponds for farmers were completed in last four years.

The economic survey released on Wednesday revealed that there was -8 per cent growth in agriculture sector last year. Mr Mungantiwar claimed that despite rain deficiency, the state witnessed highest agricultural production in 2017-18. The state government said that its aims to keep the production levels at high next year too.

The budget proposed an allocation of Rs 3,112 crore for Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. The government also allocated Rs 8,233 crore for irrigation department. The Jalayukta Shivar scheme for micro-irrigation also got Rs 1,500 crore in the budget. The government claimed that Rs 160 crore has been kept for construction of ponds.

Swaminathan Commission in its report had suggested higher expenditure on irrigation for increasing agricultural production. The Union government also has announced more funds for the irrigation this year. “We plan to double the farmers’ income by 2022. For that, we need to help him in increasing his production as per drop more crop policy of Prime Minister Narendra Modiji. Our allocation of fund for irrigation is a step towards sustainable agriculture,” said Mr Mungantiwar after the budget.

The government has decided to help farmers in increasing their sources of income. With crop and animal husbandry, now the state government has decided to give Rs 15 crore for forest agriculture. The government also announced filters in all market committee for the quality of agriculture produce. The government will share 25 per cent cost of the filters.

Trading barbs

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the budget would satisfy the expectations of the farming community. “Despite rain deficit, our government has achieved best agriculture production in last 15 years. We can compare it with the previous government. We are sure that this budget will help the farmers in many ways,” said Mr Fadnavis. But the opposition slammed budget, saying that sufficient provisions were not made for the agriculture sector. “When your economic survey is admitting minus growth in agriculture sector, you should have come up with more allocation and schemes for the farmers. After all, state’s deteriorating economy is the result of the government’s ignorant attitude towards agriculture. This budget has failed to meet those expectations,” said NCP leader Ajit Pawar.