By Vamnicom Director K K Tripathy (IES)
With allocation of a whopping 2.83 lakh crore to these sectors this budget calls for State Governments’ active cooperation in implementing the plans and policies. Effective Implementation of the Model Agri produce and livestock and Marketing Act 2017 and the model Agri produce and livestock contract farming and services promotion and facilitation Act 2018 is the need of the hour.
While 20 lakh Farmers are to be benefited by setting up standalone solar pumps, it is the market orientation in agriculture which would help the country achieve the goal of doubling Farmers income by 2022.
The Government in consultation with State Governments needs to resolve issues relating to e-NAM and ensure making agri-logistics support accessible, affordable and viable at the rural areas.
While SHGs can go for ensuring storage facilities of agri-produce, the time has come to rehash the policies promoting Cooperative warehousing, marketing, processing in rural areas. Cooperatives are best suitable in ensuring effectively the agri supply chain management and can be a catalyst in ensuring appropriate agri-business through promotion of Farmer Producer Organisations Under the Cooperative fold.
Further, non-credit Cooperatives (livestock, dairy, sugar, Fisheries, textiles, housing – to name a few) need to be given a different treatment and direction altogether. For example, inland and marine fishery sector can suitably blossom with the help of thousands of Fisheries Cooperative Societies. It is high time, FISCOPFED in consultation with Ministry of Fisheries and NFDB drew a long term time bound framework ensuring adequate income to its member units.
The Union Budget 2020 is quite positive towards Agriculture and Rural Development. To address difficulties faced by these sectors what we need is rightful implementation of budget directions in consultation with the implementing authorities in the States.