Some schemes welcomed, but real allocation declines

In the Annual Budget, the Finance Minister allocated ₹1.37 lakh crore to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, compared to ₹ 1.32 lakh crore in the previous budget.

- Kishore Kumar Biswas

While this represents a nominal increase of 4%, in real terms, the allocation has decreased.

Among the key announcements are the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojna (PMD-DKY), a program focused on vegetables and fruits, the establishment of a Makhana Board in Bihar, and a national mission on high-yielding seeds.

PMD-DKY and Agricultural Initiatives

The PMD-DKY will be implemented in partnership with states and will align with the existing Aspirational District Programme. It aims to cover 100 districts characterized by low productivity, moderate crop intensity, and below-average credit availability. According to the Finance Minister, the scheme seeks to boost agricultural productivity, encourage crop diversification and sustainable farming, enhance post-harvest storage, improve irrigation facilities, and expand credit access. It is expected to benefit 1.7 crore farmers. However, no specific budget allocation has been announced for this initiative.

Additionally, a program has been introduced to address underemployment in agriculture through skill development, investment, and technology-driven interventions aimed at revitalizing rural economies. If successful, this could help curb migration from rural areas, as per the Finance Minister.

Key Budget Allocations