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

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