Budget brings Kisan at centre stage with Rs 1.52 lakh crore agri allocation

Kisan takes centre stage in budget

The Modi 3.0 Budget saw the Centre reach out to the farmers with a commitment to boost agri productivity on priority. FM Sitharaman increased allocation to agriculture and allied activities to Rs 1.52 lakh crore in Budget 2024-25 as against Rs 1.40 lakh crore in 2023-24, a substantial hike in several years.

The budget stated in the next two years that one crore farmers across the country will be initiated into natural farming. To achieve self sufficiency in pulses and oilseeds, finance minister said that a strategy is being put in place to achieve ‘atmanirbharta’ for oil seeds such as mustard, groundnut, seasame, soybean.

FM Sitharaman said the focus this budget will be to release 109 new high-yielding, climate resilient varieties of 32 field and horticulture crops, research to raise productivity, and develop climate resilient varieties.

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The government, in partnership with the states, will also facilitate the implementation of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in agriculture to cover farmers and their land record in three years. A digital crop survey for Kharif crop using the DPI will be taken up in 400 districts and details of six crore farmers and their lands will be brought into the farmer and land registries.

Issuing of Jan Samarth based Kisan Credit Cards will be enabled in 5 states.