Agri Minister Chouhan Holds Pre-Budget Consultations with Stakeholders in New Delhi

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 16th Dec. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held pre-budget consultations with key stakeholders today at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi. The session saw active participation from farmers, agricultural entrepreneurs, organizations related to agriculture, Farmer Producer Associations, and other agricultural stakeholders, who shared a range of valuable suggestions.

During the meeting, Chouhan assured that all the suggestions received would be carefully reviewed and later submitted to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. He emphasized the importance of continuous communication with all stakeholders in the agriculture sector, underlining the government’s commitment to addressing the concerns of farmers and other key players in the industry.

Chouhan also mentioned that the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare is conducting an internal review to prepare its own proposals for the upcoming budget. The Minister highlighted that various ongoing schemes are also being reassessed to ensure their effectiveness. Many stakeholders emphasized the need for value addition in the agricultural sector, improving facilities for agricultural exporters, enhancing agricultural research, controlling the prices and quality of agricultural inputs, and safeguarding farmers from financial losses.

Additionally, Chouhan noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently dedicated 109 new crop varieties developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to the nation, a move aimed at boosting agricultural productivity. The Minister also discussed the idea of organizing Kisan Panchayats, a successful initiative introduced during his tenure as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, which could potentially be replicated at the national level to benefit farmers.

The meeting was attended by Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, along with senior officials from the Ministry, ICAR, and representatives from various organizations, including NABARD, CII, PHD Chamber of Commerce, ASSOCHAM, State Bank of India, and the Soybean Processors Association of India.