Neither the Country Nor Farmers Will Get Benefit: Government Says No to Separate Agriculture Budget

Asserting its commitment to farmers' interests and the agriculture sector, the government stated in Lok Sabha on Tuesday that a separate budget for agriculture was not needed. In response to questions in the Lower House, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar stated that having a separate budget for agriculture would assist neither the country nor even the farmers. 

He was answering DMK member T R Baalu's question on why the government does not consider establishing a separate agricultural budget to address farmers' problems. 

According to the DMK member, agriculture helped India "survive" throughout the global recession. 

"In Tamil Nadu, our chief minister M K Stalin introduced a separate agriculture budget," he remarked. In response to the DMK leader's question, the agricultural minister stated, "What he (Baalu) has recommended would naturally be accepted by everyone." 

He recalled that previously, there was a separate budget for railways. However, he stated that the administration implemented reforms and combined the Railway Budget with the main budget. 

"If we analyze, we will notice a significant change in railway budget implementation (since its merger with the main budget)," Tomar said during Question Hour. "The budget, whether one or two, should have a direction, enough provisions, and the will to implement them," he said. 

The minister stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration is "fully committed" to farmers' interests and farming. 

"Keeping a different budget (for agriculture) and withdrawing allocations from the main budget will assist neither the country nor the farmers," he continued. 

What is the need for a Separate agriculture Budget? 

Agriculture requires a distinct budget at the state and national levels since it encompasses more than just agricultural production. It also covers animal husbandry, beekeeping, aquaculture, forestry, hill cultivation, and horticulture. There were a lot of expectations of Farmers with the Budget 2022-23 which were not met. Therefore, the farmer community seeks a separate budget for the Agri sector.