FM Nirmala Sitharaman Proposes 16 Point Action Plan For Farmers’ Income Growth

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Nirmala Sitharaman, the Finance Minister of India, while presenting the Union Budget for 2020-21, proposed a 16 point action plan to enhance the agricultural sector of India and boost the economic situation of farmers.

Ms. Sitharaman said, “The government proposes a 16 point action plan to boost agriculture and farmers welfare. Agricultural services need copious investments.”

While presenting the Union Budget, Ms. Sitharaman said this year, the Union Government would focus on farmers and their growth.  With the aim of doubling their income, the Finance Ministry of India came up with a 16 point action plan.

The Budget set the agricultural credit target at Rs. 15 lakh crores and also promised to double the farmers’ income by 2022.  Ms. Sitharaman said the Central Government insured 6.11 crore farmers under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.

To grow in the solar energy technology sector, the Union Government would provide funds to 20 lakh farmers for setting up standalone solar pumps.

According to Economic Survey 2019-2020, issues like investment in agriculture, water conservation and other farming issues need attention and must be resolved to help the Indian economy grow.

The Economic Survey suggested considering the issues of farmers and providing them access to market and credit availability, which would contribute to the growth of the agricultural sector.

The 16 points proposed for boosting the agricultural sector and ensuring farmers’ welfare are:

    • Plans to help farmers so they can use manure and less water, along with a balanced use of fertilizers.
    • Comprehensive measures for 100 water stressed districts.
    • Expansion of Annadata scheme to include “Oorjadata,” helping farmers link pumps to solar grid.  Farmers who have barren land can set up solar power plants and sell the power generated to grids for money.
    • Expand the PM KUSUM Solar Pump scheme to assist 20 lakh farmers.
    • National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to map and geotag warehouses across India which provide viability funds to set up new warehouses.
    • In order to empower women in rural areas, village storage schemes run by SHGs were proposed.  Women SHGs can avail MUDRA or NABARD assistance under the Dhaanya Lakshmi scheme.
    • Seamless national cold supply scheme: The Government proposed the Indian Railways implement the Kisan Rail scheme, which would lead to refrigerated coaches in trains for milk and other perishable products.  Krishi Udan would also be launched by the Civil Aviation Ministry on national and international routes, with an aim of increasing connectivity in northeast and tribal districts.
    • Expansion of production of food grains by horticultural sector to 311 million metric tonnes.  In each district, the Central Government, with the help of the concerned State Government, would encourage the production of one product.
    • Expansion of integrated farming systems in rainfed areas so that supplying solar energy and beekeeping, amongst others, can be carried out during non farming seasons and serve as sources of income.
    • Online organic market to be strengthened.
    • Doubling the milk processing capacity to 108 million metric tonnes by 2025.
    • Fish production would be increased to 200 lakh tonnes by 2021-2022.
    • Allocation of Rs. 15 lakhs for agricultural credit for farmers by 2021.
    • Eliminating foot and mouth disease, brucellosis in cattle and PPR in sheep by 2025.
    • Growing algae and seaweed as part of marine development.
    • Youth to be involved in the fisheries sector as “saagar mitras” and with the help of the Government, they form 500 fish farmer producer organisations.

The 16 point action plan announced solely for the agriculture sector would result in the development of the sector and would also increase the income of farmers by 2022.

Stay tuned for further updates.

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