Sir — In the Union Budget for 2018-19, the Union Government announced establishing new rural markets and E-NAM for the welfare of Indian farmers which will be beneficial for linkages between market and farmers. The allocation of Rs 2,000 crore for the establishment of these rural markets is a good move. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely has also allocated Rs 500 crore for potato, tomato and onion crop farmers to help them cope with the vagaries of nature and demand fluctuation, which will be known as ‘Operation Green’ in the agriculture sector.
Crucially, though, the Government has pegged the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops at one-and-half times the input costs to alleviate agrarian distress as per the MS Swaminathan committee recommendations and this should be welcomed. Also, the provision to extend the Kisan Credit Card for fisheries and animal husbandry is a smart move.
The establishment of 42 mega food parks will provide a fillip to the agro-processing industry and the introduction of the ‘bamboo mission’ for farmers will help increase farmers’ income. The Budget also made provisions for 100 per cent income tax benefit scheme for agriculture and farm equipment manufacturers to boost the rural economy. The most vital feature of the Budget for the farm sector is the establishment of the Agricultural Cluster Model for production that will be promoted by the Government as a policy. Additionally, there are Budgetary allocations to the tune of Rs 200 crore to promote organic farming. These are important and big outcomes for the Indian agriculture sector.