New Delhi: Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today chaired a pre-budget consultation at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi. The meeting brought together farmers, agricultural entrepreneurs, Farmer Producer Associations, and representatives from various agriculture-related organizations to discuss and propose measures for the upcoming Union Budget.
Addressing the gathering, Chouhan emphasized the importance of incorporating grassroots insights into policy-making. “We will meticulously review all the suggestions received and communicate them to the Finance Minister. Continuous dialogue with all stakeholders in the agriculture sector remains a priority,” he said.
The Minister also shared that the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare is conducting an internal review of existing schemes and studying new proposals to present to the Finance Ministry. “Suggestions from farmers and stakeholders who work directly in the field are invaluable. They provide practical insights into issues like value addition in agriculture, expanding export facilities, boosting agricultural research, controlling the price and quality of inputs, and ensuring farmers’ profitability,” Chouhan added.
Chouhan highlighted the government’s commitment to agricultural innovation, recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent dedication of 109 new crop varieties developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to the nation. He also discussed the potential of implementing new initiatives, such as organizing Kisan Panchayats, inspired by the successful model during his tenure as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.
The meeting saw participation from key officials, including Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, as well as senior representatives from ICAR, NABARD, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), PHD Chamber of Commerce, ASSOCHAM, the State Bank of India, and the Soybean Processors Association of India.
Stakeholders provided diverse suggestions aimed at transforming India’s agriculture sector, including enhancing value chains, improving infrastructure for agricultural exports, and strengthening research and development initiatives. Suggestions to streamline the availability of quality inputs and stabilize pricing mechanisms were also discussed.
