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5-February -2025-Special-Article

February 5 @ 7:00 am - 11:30 pm

AGRICULTURE INITIATIVES IN UNION BUDGET 2025-26

The Union Budget 2025-26 emphasizes agriculture as a key driver of India’s economic growth.

Several measures have been announced to boost productivity, improve farmer income, and enhance rural resilience.

The Economic Survey 2024-25 highlights a 5% annual growth in agriculture from 2016-17 to 2022-23.

The introduction of the National Mission on High-Yielding Seeds has raised concerns about monoculture and biodiversity loss.

Key Agricultural Initiatives in Budget 2025-26

National Mission on High-Yielding Seeds

Aim: To increase agricultural productivity through improved seed varieties.

Focus Areas:

  • Develop new, high-yielding seed varieties.
  • Improve resistance to pests and climate stress.
  • Ensure easy access to high-quality seeds for farmers.

Target:

Introduce 100+ new seed varieties, including:

  • 23 cereals
  • 11 pulses
  • 7 oilseeds

Establishment of Makhana Board in Bihar

  • Objective: Support makhana (fox nut) production, processing, and marketing.
  • Farmers to benefit through Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and government schemes.

National Institute of Food Technology in Bihar

  • Purpose: Promote food processing in Eastern India.
  • Aims to boost value addition, storage, and farmer incomes.

Second Gene Bank for Crop Conservation

  • Purpose: Preserve crop genetic diversity for future food security.
  • Capacity: Will store 10 lakh germplasm lines.
  • First gene bank was established in 1996.

Mission for Cotton Productivity

  • Objective: Improve cotton productivity and sustainability.
  • Focus on extra-long staple cotton varieties.
  • Aligned with 5F principle of the Ministry of Textiles:
  • Farm to Fibre
  • Fibre to Factory
  • Factory to Fashion
  • Fashion to Foreign

Sustainable Fisheries Development

  • Goal: Establish a sustainable framework for fisheries in:
  • Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
  • High Seas
  • Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands
  • India ranks 2nd globally in fish production and aquaculture.

Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana

  • Objective: Improve agricultural productivity in 100 low-productivity districts.
  • Key Focus Areas:
  • Crop diversification
  • Sustainable practices
  • Better irrigation and storage
  • Improved credit access
  • Beneficiaries: 1.7 crore farmers

Mission for Self-Reliance in Pulses

  • Duration: 6 years
  • Goal: Achieve self-sufficiency in pulse production.
  • Focus Crops: Tur, Urad, Masur

Rural Prosperity and Resilience Programme

  • Objective: Address under-employment in agriculture through:
  • Skill development
  • Technology adoption
  • Investment in rural areas
  • Women’s financial independence
  • Target Groups: Rural women, young farmers, and small farmers

Grameen Credit Score

  • Developed by: Public Sector Banks
  • Purpose: Improve credit access for Self-Help Group (SHG) members and rural individuals.

Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) Loan Limit Increase

  • Modified Interest Subvention Scheme:
  • Loan limit raised from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.
  • Supports 7 crore farmers, fishermen, and dairy farmers.

High-Yielding Seeds: Benefits & Concerns

What Are High-Yielding Seeds?

  • Seeds developed through selective breeding, genetic modification, or advanced techniques.

Benefits

  • Higher productivity per unit area.
  • Faster growth and better disease resistance.
  • Lower resource consumption.

Examples

  • Hybrid Rice: PRH 10, Pusa Basmati 1121
  • Hybrid Wheat: HD 3086, PBW 725
  • Bt Cotton

Concerns

  • Promotes monoculture, reducing biodiversity.
  • Threatens indigenous seed varieties.
  • Increases dependence on corporate seed companies.

Key Findings of Economic Survey 2024-25

Agricultural Growth

  • 5% annual growth (2016-23).
  • GVA share increased from 24.38% (2014-15) to 30.23% (2022-23).
  • Agricultural income grew at 5.23% annually.

Sectoral Performance

Fastest Growth:

  • Fisheries: 13.67%
  • Livestock: 12.99%

Slowest Growth:

  • Oilseeds: 1.9%

Irrigation Improvements

  • Coverage increased from 49.3% (2015-16) to 55% (2020-21).
  • Irrigation intensity rose from 144.2% to 154.5%.
  • High irrigation states: Punjab (98%), Haryana (94%), UP (84%), Telangana (86%).
  • Low irrigation states: Jharkhand, Assam (below 20%).

Way Forward

Promote Biodiversity

  • Preserve traditional seed varieties alongside high-yielding seeds.
  • Support mixed cropping systems to maintain genetic diversity.

Ensure Ecological Sustainability

  • Prevent monoculture farming.
  • Encourage crop rotation and polyculture for better soil health and pest control.

Strengthen Research & Development

  • Develop climate-resilient and disease-resistant crops.
  • Use both traditional and modern breeding techniques.

Leverage Technology

  • Use GIS and remote sensing for crop health monitoring.
  • Improve early warning systems for pests and diseases.

Mains Question:

  1. “Discuss the key agricultural initiatives announced in the Union Budget 2025-26 and analyze their potential impact on India’s agricultural productivity and rural economy.” (150 WORDS)

Details

Date:
February 5
Time:
7:00 am - 11:30 pm
Event Category:
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