Union Budget 2024 For Farmers and Agriculture: Farmers in Punjab have raised concerns about the recently announced Union Budget 2024, claiming that it inadequately addressed the needs of the agricultural sector. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the budget, allocating Rs 1.52 lakh crore for agriculture and allied sectors in the fiscal year 2024-25. While the budget outlines initiatives to enhance research, promote sustainable farming, and integrate technology, critics argue that it falls short in crucial areas.
Key Points:
Minimum Support Price (MSP): The budget does not provide a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP), a critical issue for farmers. This omission has drawn criticism from Sarwan Singh Pandher, leader of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM).
Farm Loan Waiver: There is no provision for farm loan waivers in the budget, further disappointing farmers who were hoping for relief.
Vision for Agriculture: Critics, including Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) leader Jagjit Singh Dhaliwal, argue that the budget lacks a clear vision for the agriculture sector. The allocated amount—Rs 1.52 lakh crore—represents only three percent of the total budget size, leaving room for improvement.
While the budget emphasizes research and climate-resilient crop varieties, its perceived shortcomings have sparked debate within the farming community. Many believe that a more comprehensive approach is needed to address the challenges faced by farmers in Punjab and beyond.
