Union Home Minister Amit Shah yesterday hailed the announcement of the finance ministry ramping up the agricultural and fisheries infrastructure, saying the unprecedented economic package will “open up new doors.”
“The Modi government believes that India’s welfare lies in the welfare of farmers. This unprecedented assistance given to farmers shows Modi’s foresight to make the country self-sufficient by empowering farmers,” said Shah.
Citing examples of Modi government purchasing crops worth Rs743bn at MSP and crop insurance scheme worth Rs64bn during the lockdown, Shah said the centre has shown “sensitivity in odd circumstances”.
Referring to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s decision of Rs100bn aid for microfood enterprises, Shah said it will provide an “unprecedented force” to the people associated with small enterprises involving mango, saffron, chilli and bamboo in various fields.
Sitharaman yesterday came out with a slew of fiscal measures along with regulatory reforms to revive agriculture and allied sectors for a ‘self-reliant India’.
The minister detailed eight unique steps backed by fiscal support to build local brands, cold-chain and warehousing infrastructure and promote animal husbandry and fisheries in the country.
The centre yesterday also allocated Rs200bn for fishermen through the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). This was part of the government economic package to help rejuvenate India’s economy.
An amount of Rs110bn out of Rs200bn is kept for activities in marine, inland fisheries and aquaculture.
Meanwhile, the rest Rs90bn is for creating infrastructure like fishing harbors, cold chains and markets.
Shah said this “will provide new strength to the infrastructure, modernisation, productivity and quality of the sector and also generate new jobs”.
Sitharaman added that the government will also come up with a facilitative legal framework to enable farmers to directly engage with processors, retailers and exporters in a fair and transparent manner. She added that risk mitigation for farmers, assured returns and quality standardisation will be an integral part of the framework.
She noted that farmers lack an enforceable standard mechanism for predictable prices of crops at the time of sowing and private sector investment in provision of inputs and knowhow in the agriculture sector is hindered.
Among other administrative measures announced for reform of agriculture in India, was the centre’s decision to amend the Essential Commodities Act whereby agriculture produce including pulses, onion, potato and cereals would be deregulated.
Edible oil and oilseeds will also be deregulated.
The minister also announced the launch of a national animal disease control programme for foot-and-mouth disease and brucellosis, apart from an animal husbandry infrastructure development fund etc.
Earlier Prime Minister Narendra Modi too welcomed the announcements related to agriculture and allied sectors made by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and said that these will help the rural economy.
The prime minister tweeted: “I welcome today’s measures announced by FM @nsitharaman. They will help the rural economy, our hardworking farmers, fishermen, animal husbandry and dairy sectors. I specially welcome the reform initiatives in agriculture, which will boost the income of farmers.”
A police personal hands out free tickets to migrant workers as they queue to enter a railway station to board the Shramik Express to Bihar, during a government imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against coronavirus, in Faridabad yesterday.
