NE BUSINESS BUREAU
NEW DELHI, FEB 1
The Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre is committed to doubling the farmers’ income, said the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Seetharaman while announcing a 16-point action plan to boost their income in her Budget speech on Saturday.
“Farmers who have fallow or barren land will be helped to set up solar power generation units and also sell surplus power to the solar grid and also make living out of even barren land.”
“Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha and Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) to be expanded to provide 20 lakh farmers in setting up standalone solar pumps,” she further added.
She also stressed the need to liberalise farm markets. “Farming needs to be made more competitive, hand-holding of farm-based activities need to be provided sustainable cropping patterns and more technology is needed,” said Sitharaman.
The Finance Minister also said that this year’s Budget will boost the income of people and enhance their purchasing power, adding that the government committed to doubling farmers’ income by 2022.
“We will encourage balanced use of all fertilisers, a necessary step to change the incentive regime which encourages excessive use of chemical fertilisers,” the minister said.
The Budget also proposed a scheme Krishi Udaan (by the civil aviation ministry) to transport agricultural products to national as well international destinations, she said adding that Indian Railways will set up Kisan Rail in Public-Private Partnership (PPP model) for the cold supply chain to transport perishable goods.
