In today’s Union Budget presentation, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman revealed that ₹1.52 lakh crore has been allocated for agriculture and related sectors for the fiscal year 2024-25. She also announced plans to introduce one crore farmers to natural farming over the next two years.
This seventh consecutive budget from Sitharaman asserted on sustainable agricultural practices, the expansion of digital infrastructure, and enhanced production methods. The shift towards natural farming aims to promote eco-friendly practices by reducing reliance on chemical fertilisers and pesticides. This approach is expected to improve soil health, enhance biodiversity, and lower cultivation costs, thereby increasing farmers’ profitability.
Additionally, the Finance Minister outlined the establishment of large-scale vegetable production clusters at key locations to boost supply and stabilise vegetable availability nationwide.
Sitharaman also mentioned a comprehensive review of agricultural research to focus on developing climate-resilient crop varieties. “We will release 109 new high-yielding, climate-resilient varieties to farmers. Additionally, 10,000 need-based bio-input centres will be set up to enhance the production, storage, and marketing of oilseeds,” she said.
