For more than two months, angry farmers from the central government have been sitting on the borders of Delhi and are calling the policies of the current Modi government as anti-farmer.
But Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting the General Budget for FY 2021-22 on Monday, claimed that ‘the government is dedicated to the farmers’.
She has said that the government is determined to double the income of farmers by 2022. Along with this, it was claimed that the Modi government has transferred nearly three times the amount from the UPA government to the farmers’ accounts and help has been provided to farmers in every sector and MSP of pulses, wheat, paddy and other crops has been increased.
What is in the general budget for farmers?
Finance Minister Sitharaman has said that in 2013-14, 63 thousand crores was spent on the purchase of paddy, which has been increased to 1 lakh 45 thousand crores.
He said that this year this figure can reach 72 thousand crore rupees and 1.2 crore farmers had benefited from it last year, this year 1.5 crore farmers have benefited from it.
The Finance Minister said, “The government spent Rs 33 thousand crores on wheat in 2013-14. It has grown to Rs 63 thousand crores in 2019 and now it has risen to Rs 75 thousand crores. 43 lakh farmers got the benefit in 2020-21 is.”
The issue of MSP is the main thing that agitating farmers are most concerned about.
But during the general budget, the Finance Minister said that the government is committed to the welfare of farmers and the MSP has been increased to 1.5 times the cost of production.
The Finance Minister said that farmers have paid 75,060 for wheat and 10,503 crore for pulses.
At the same time, the payment amount of paddy is estimated to be 1,72,752 crore and 22 more products will be included in agricultural products.
He said that in FY 2021, farmers were paid Rs 75,100 crore on wheat. According to the Finance Minister, 43.36 lakh wheat growing farmers benefited from government purchases under MSP, which was 35.57 lakh earlier.
When the Finance Minister was telling this, the opposition was shouting slogans against the three agricultural laws in the House. Meanwhile, the Finance Minister said that there has been a steady increase in agricultural purchases, which has benefited the farmers.
What other things were announced?
The Finance Minister said that in 2021-22, the agriculture loan target is being increased to Rs 16.5 lakh crore.
He has informed that now the ownership plan will be implemented across the country. With this, Operation Green Scheme has been announced, which will cover many crops.
At the same time, five fishing harbors will be developed as hubs of economic activity. Also, a fish landing center will be developed in Tamil Nadu.
