The agriculture sector holds high expectations from the Union Budget every year. And this year's budget has met a few expectations of the agriculture sector. Along with the new 16-point action plan to boost agriculture, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has given the emphasis on dairy, animal husbandry and fishery sectors in her Union Budget 2020 speech.
An ambitious target of doubling the milk processing capacity to 108 million tonnes by 2025 has been set by the government, and with this aim, dairy farmers can see a ray of hope. The artificial insemination in cattle from 30 to 70 percent is also a big step from the government towards enhancing the productivity of milk production and increasing farmers' income. MNREGS's programme of developing fodder farms will also boost the overall milk production.
While talking about the fishery sector, Budget 2020 brings new hope as the sector is about to witness new progressions in the coming years. Sitharaman, in her speech, has given a focus on the fishery sector and says the government will be working towards involving youth in the sector. Sitharaman also said in her speech that the government is hoping that the rural youth would work as Sagar Mitras and would also form Fish Farmer Organisation. The government is also aiming to raise the production of fishes to 200 lakh tonnes by the year 2022.
The government has also provided farmers with PM Kisan Beema Yojana in which 11 crore farmers have been covered and are given annual assistance to the farmer through the scheme. There is a need to open and liberalized agricultural markets for fisheries, animal husbandry, and dairy, added Sitharaman. Towards the conservation of marine fishery, the government has also given a thought in the Union Budget 2020.
It's not the first time that the dairy, animal husbandry and fishery sectors are given limelight in the Union Budget. A big amount of Rs 3,737 had been allocated to the new Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in the Union Budget 2019-20. The Finance Minister came up with a new scheme called 'Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana' to especially promote fishery.
