Followed by the two days in a series announcing the beneficiaries of the Rs 20 lakh crores economic stimulus package, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman focused on Friday announced the third tranche. While the first and second tranches focused on MSME sector, migrant workers, street vendors and small farmers, the third day focused on animal husbandry, dairy farming and fisheries industry.
Apart from Rs 1 lakh crore, the Modi-led government also amended the Essential Commodities Act to ease restrictions on the trade of farm product. The government will also bring in a law to implement agriculture marketing reforms to provide marketing choices to farmers. Farmers will have the choice to sell products anywhere at an attractive price.
“Operation Greens will be extended to all fruits and vegetables. The government has made a provision of ₹500 crores for the ‘TOP to Total’ scheme,” stated Nirmala Sitharaman. The Finance Minister also stated that the government wants to ensure 100% vaccination of nearly 53 crore animals, a livestock size which is among the largest in the world.
Here are few other key points from the FinMin’s speech today,
Essential Commodities Act will be amended to enable better price realisation for farmers
Govt to promote beekeeping initiatives with a ₹500 crore fund
To promote herbal cultivation, ₹4,000 crores will be allocated to the National Medicinal Plants Board
₹20,000 crores for fishermen through the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
FM announces ₹1 lakh crore fund for agriculture infrastructure fund for farm-gate infra for farmers
