AGRICULTURE’S FUTURE IN QUESTION: UNION BUDGET 2024 REVIEW

Why in the news?

  • The Union Budget 2024 has been criticized for its lack of ambition and novel ideas in the agricultural sector.
  • Despite prioritizing “productivity and resilience in agriculture,” the budget proposals largely repeat previous promises without introducing significant new initiatives.
source: BBC

Agricultural highlights in budget:

  • The budget’s plan to initiate one crore farmers into natural farming mirrors promises from the past two years.
  • Proposals like building digital infrastructure for agriculture and developing supply chains for vegetables are not new, having been mentioned in previous budgets.
  • The budget does not address critical issues such as rationalizing urea prices or redirecting subsidies towards investment in agricultural research and infrastructure.
Key Agricultural Initiatives in Budget 2024-25:

Namo Drone Didi Scheme

  • Objective: Empower rural women by providing drones for rental services to farmers, enhancing farming efficiency through precision agriculture.

Support for Natural Farming

  • Objective: Encourage one crore farmers to adopt natural farming practices with certification and branding support, promoting minimal intervention and natural resource usage.

Jan Samarth-based Kisan Credit

  • Objective: Streamline access to 13 government schemes for farmers through a single-window online platform.

Pulses, Oilseeds, and Vegetable Production

  • Objective: Achieve self-sufficiency in pulses and oilseeds production and develop efficient supply chains for vegetables.

National Cooperation Policy and Rural Economy

  • Objective: Systematic development of the cooperative sector to boost rural economy and employment.

Shrimp Production and Export

  • Objective: Enhance shrimp production and export capabilities by setting up nucleus breeding centres for shrimp broodstocks

Associated Article:

https://universalinstitutions.com/budget-2024-for-the-social-sector-it-is-old-wine-in-an-old-bottle/