India's Union Budget 2016-17 has come under criticism for failing to address problems with the farming sector. Over the last two years India has made substantial savings to the national exchequer, but the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, complained Monday 29 Feb, that the allocation to the agricultural sector has not increased, adding that it offered “nothing concrete” to rejuvenate the rural economy.
The budget presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has set aside negligible allocation for the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) and cut funding for Centrally-sponsored schemes.
The NDA government’s budget, which was high on rhetoric, has not reflected concerns expressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi about farmers in his monthly radio programme. Mr. Modi set a target of doubling the income of farmers by 2022, but the budget was bereft of ideas or plans on achieving the target, Mr. Siddaramaiah said.
“Overall, the budget has neglected agriculture, irrigation and rural development sectors,” he said.
However, the Chief Minister welcomed the Centre’s decision to amend the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act. The State launched an e-platform a few years ago, to provide access to market, which was critical to boost farmers’ income; Mr. Jaitley said the government was implementing a unified agricultural market, which envisages setting up of a common e-platform in 585 selective wholesale markets.
The Finance Minister said that amendment to the APMC Act of the State was a prerequisite to join the e-platform.
