NEW DELHI: Despite the one lakh crore increase in agriculture credit — from `3.75 lakh crore to `4.75 lakh crore — and other schemes to rejuvenate vegetable and pulse production, acclaimed agriculture scientist and member of Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council M S Swaminathan termed the 2011-12 Budget as “disappointing’’.
Nevertheless, Monday’s Budget has been billed as one that tilts towards rural economy and farm sector, in keeping with the new thinking in the Congress party. But Swaminathan does not quite agree, “No practical and coherent strategy has been proposed to make the agriculture sector attractive, especially to the youth.”
Talking to Express soon after Budget presentation, Swaminathan said “the crisis in agriculture sector needs deeper engagement. There is no other option but to incentivise the agriculture sector to ensure that youth do not opt out of farming.’’
Instead of the fire-fighting measures that have been taken — such as promotion of oil palm (to bridge the edible oil shortfall and curb rising prices), green revolution in eastern region (extension of last year’s proposal), integrated development of 60,000 pulse villages (again to curb inflationary pressures due to shortfall in the supply chain), initiative to develop vegetable clusters (addressing food inflation in perishable items), mega food parks/chains —Swaminathan said, “The focus should have been on preceding stages — on soil health cards for farmer families — so that they know what to sow and what fertiliser nutrient to use.’’
He felt the proposed Food Security Bill will force the government to invest in agriculture. “Like they can’t run RTI without officials, they will not be able to run Food Security without farmers’ help,” he added.