Among several other big announcements in this year’s Budget, the Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a 16-point action plan to alleviate the farm stress and revive the agricultural sector in India. This is largely in line with PM Modi’s ambition of doubling farmers’ incomes by the year 2022.
Among the more significant of the slew of measures announced in the Union Budget are “Krishi Udaan”, which is going to come in the shape of a tie-up with the Civil Aviation Ministry in order to ensure transportation of food grains and other agricultural products on both National and International routes. The Finance Minister also said that this would “especially help the North East”.
The ambitious plan would be launched by the Civil Aviation ministry with the object of empowering the Indian farmers, especially those in far-flung/ remote areas by making their produce accessible to National and International destinations.
The 16-point Action Plan has paid a lot of attention towards transportation and logistical help to the farmers. In line with the ambition of ensuring mobility of agricultural produce, the “Kisan Rail” has also been announced.
Kisan Rail is going to introduce exclusive trains for the supply of agricultural goods. Shedding light upon the announcement, Sitharaman said that the Indian Railways would set up “Kisan Rail” in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The exclusive trains under this project would boast of refrigerated coaches that would help farmers access faraway markets, quickly and cheaply.
It is important to mention here that various regions in India boast of agricultural products, which are peculiar to those regions. However, the potential of those regions to hit prolific markets remains latent and untapped due to mobility and transportation hindrances. However, with “Krishi Udaan” and “Kisan Rail”, the Modi government seeks to address the core of farmers’ concerns.
Other measures announced by the Finance Minister include diversification as she also spoke about a “blue economy”. She stressed that the Modi government has plans to improve returns from the fisheries sector.
Further, in order to augment marketability of agricultural produce, the Modi government has also proposed to support states with a “1 product, 1 district” platform.
The Finance Minister also urged the farmers to embrace alternative land use for barren lands, including setting up solar farms. In order to encourage such alternative land use, the Modi government has also proposed providing 20 lakh farmers with facilities for standalone solar pumps and yet 15 lakh other farmers with solar-powered, grid-connected pump sets.
This Union Budget marks a tilt from populist measures to real steps towards empowering farmers. Finance Minister Sitharaman also announced that NABARD (National Bank for Rural and Agricultural Development) would map and geotag cold-storage and warehousing facilities to aid farmers in locating such facilities quickly and conveniently.
The Union Budget is a transformative announcement, insofar it marks a tilt from the culture of making a vote bank out of farm stress with announcement of populist measures like farm loan waivers and subsidies.
The Modi government understands that empowering farmers by making available necessary transportation, storage and marketing facilities is always more effective and far-reaching than pointless subsidies and waivers.
The Union Budget, therefore, marks the first step in India’s history towards empowering farmers in true sense of the term. By pushing out of the box, innovative ideas and opening up new avenues for the farmers, the Modi government is all set to stage an unprecedented revival in the agricultural sector.
