[ad_1]
Announcing the government’s third installment of Rs 20 lakh crore Economic package To cope with the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sitharaman said the government has taken various measures in the past two months to support farmers, including purchases of minimum support prices (MSP) of Rs 73.3 billion. rupees.
Here are the measures announced by the finance minister:
* The government has established a Rs 1 lakh crore agriculture fund for farm gate infrastructure. This will be used to establish cold chains and post-harvest crop management.
* A scheme of Rs 10 billion rupees was launched for the formalization of micro-food companies (MFE). A group-based approach will be adopted so that unorganized MEFs obtain a technical update to meet FSSAI food standards.
* To promote herb cultivation, the Rs 4 billion National Medicinal Plants Fund will be started to help cover 10,000 hectares per herb cultivation.
* For beekeepers, a rupee scheme of Rs 500 was announced for infrastructure development and post-harvest facilities.
* Rs 20 billion has been provided to fishermen through Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for the development of marine and inland fisheries.
* Operation Greens has expanded from tomato, onion, and potato to all fruits and vegetables by providing a 50 percent subsidy on the transportation and storage of these products.
* A 15 billion rupee animal husbandry infrastructure development fund will be established to support investment in dairy processing, value added and livestock feeding infrastructure.
* The National Animal Disease Control Program was launched with a total outlay of Rs 13,343 million for vaccination of 100% of the population of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats and pigs in India.
* The government will also implement a scheme worth Rs 500 million for the development of infrastructure related to beekeeping. This would lead to an increase in the income of 2 lakh beekeepers and quality honey for consumers.
In addition to this, the finance minister also announced amendments to the six-and-a-half-year-old Commodities Act to deregulate food, including cereals, edible oil, oilseeds, legumes, onions and potatoes.
The amendment, in addition to deregulating the production and sale of food products, will not establish a stock limit for any product. A stock limit will be imposed only in very exceptional circumstances such as national calamities, famines with rising prices.
It also announced agricultural marketing reforms to provide marketing options to farmers.
(With contributions from the agency)
In video: FM Sitharaman announces agricultural infrastructure of Rs 1 lakh crore
.
[ad_2]
