Budget 2024: Agriculture & FMCG sectors seek better infra & tech to help farmers tackle climate change, inflationary pressures
agriculture and FMCG sectors have requested the government to use the budget to address the challenges they face due to drought, climate change and inflationary pressures.
The requests were made during pre-budget consultations with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The minister is scheduled to present the Union Budget on July 23, after presenting an interim budget in February due to Lok Sabha elections.
Ashok Kumar, Associate Director, Farm Prosperity, Transform Rural India (TRI), tells ET Digital that a robust crop insurance mechanism is of paramount importance for farmers as weather risks have emerged as a major threat due to climate change. The budget should also focus on safe food production practices and support the production of chemical-free products that are safe for consumption. “Value addition and procurement have to be facilitated near farms. That will lead to higher income. Investment should be announced in quality energy access in farms and processing of primary agriculture produce. Photovoltaic systems could be a potential solution to meet the energy requirement of the agri sector,” says Kumar.
Boost to agri infrastructure
Rajesh Aggarwal, Managing Director, Insecticides (India), says the agricultural sector eagerly awaits increased investment in rural infrastructure. Other comprehensive reforms that are important are the strengthening of road networks, irrigation facilities and storage infrastructure. “These are pivotal to minimise post-harvest losses and enhance market access for farmers. This
