Agri sector to get priority says FM Jaitley
Updated: Jun 05, 2014 04:34:32pm
New Delhi, Jun 5 (KNN) In his pre-budget consultations, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said today the Modi Government will give a boost to the farm sector despite the financial constraints before the new regime as the agriculture sector will remain its priority.
“Though Agriculture and its allied Sectors employ largest numbers of people in the country yet its share in the GDP has contracted over the years. …the concerns of Agriculture Sector are high on the priority of the Government,” said an official notification quoting Jaitley in a meeting with representatives of the agriculture sector.
Despite the constraints of the economy as it exists today, the Government will try its best to boost this sector, he said.
The meeting saw the presence of Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Secretary, Arvind Mayaram, Expenditure Secretary, Ratan P Watal, Revenue Secretary, Rajiv Takru, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ashish Bahuguna and other senior officers of the Ministry of Finance among others.
During the meeting representatives offered various suggestions such as establishing a Kissan TV Channel to create awareness among farmers about new technologies, government programmes and quality parameters etc.
Members also called for timely decision on ‘Minimum Support Price’ at cost of production plus 50 per cent, timely and efficient procurement policy, priority for mechanization in all commodities, setting-up of commodity wise board, water conservation as a national priority with focus on drip and sprinkler irrigation; timely completion of irrigation projects and linking of rivers; setting-up of National Water Authority and River Valley Authorities.
They also suggested the use of information technology, new marketing technologies, setting- up of soil health testing facilities in each Panchayat, making animal husbandry a profitable occupation, and strengthening of agriculture research and extension facilities.
Others who attended the meeting were, M S Swaminathan from M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, S Ayyappan from Indian Council for Agriculture Research, Ramesh Chand from National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research (NCAP), Keshav Das from Gujarat Institute of Development Research, Gopal Naik from Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, Ashok Vishandass from Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices, P Chengal Reddy from Consortium of Indian Farmers Association, K V Prabhu from Indian Agriculture Research Institute, Baldev Singh Dhillon from Punjab Agricultural University, Siraj Chaudhary from Cargill India Private Limited, Tushar Shah from International Water Management Institute, Crispino Lobo from Watershed Organisation Trust, Dinesh from National Cooperative Union of India, Vijayan Rajes from United Planters Association of South India (UPASI) and Geemon Korah from All India Spices Exporter Forum. (KNN/ES)
“Though Agriculture and its allied Sectors employ largest numbers of people in the country yet its share in the GDP has contracted over the years. …the concerns of Agriculture Sector are high on the priority of the Government,” said an official notification quoting Jaitley in a meeting with representatives of the agriculture sector.
Despite the constraints of the economy as it exists today, the Government will try its best to boost this sector, he said.
The meeting saw the presence of Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Secretary, Arvind Mayaram, Expenditure Secretary, Ratan P Watal, Revenue Secretary, Rajiv Takru, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ashish Bahuguna and other senior officers of the Ministry of Finance among others.
During the meeting representatives offered various suggestions such as establishing a Kissan TV Channel to create awareness among farmers about new technologies, government programmes and quality parameters etc.
Members also called for timely decision on ‘Minimum Support Price’ at cost of production plus 50 per cent, timely and efficient procurement policy, priority for mechanization in all commodities, setting-up of commodity wise board, water conservation as a national priority with focus on drip and sprinkler irrigation; timely completion of irrigation projects and linking of rivers; setting-up of National Water Authority and River Valley Authorities.
They also suggested the use of information technology, new marketing technologies, setting- up of soil health testing facilities in each Panchayat, making animal husbandry a profitable occupation, and strengthening of agriculture research and extension facilities.
Others who attended the meeting were, M S Swaminathan from M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, S Ayyappan from Indian Council for Agriculture Research, Ramesh Chand from National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research (NCAP), Keshav Das from Gujarat Institute of Development Research, Gopal Naik from Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, Ashok Vishandass from Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices, P Chengal Reddy from Consortium of Indian Farmers Association, K V Prabhu from Indian Agriculture Research Institute, Baldev Singh Dhillon from Punjab Agricultural University, Siraj Chaudhary from Cargill India Private Limited, Tushar Shah from International Water Management Institute, Crispino Lobo from Watershed Organisation Trust, Dinesh from National Cooperative Union of India, Vijayan Rajes from United Planters Association of South India (UPASI) and Geemon Korah from All India Spices Exporter Forum. (KNN/ES)
Loading...
