Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said that Rs 1 lakh crore fund will be created for agriculture infrastructure projects.
“In a move to strengthen infrastructure in agriculture, financing facility of Rs. 1 lakh crore will be provided for funding Agriculture Infrastructure Projects at farm-gate & aggregation points,” she said while announcing the third tranche of COVID-19 relief package.
The Finance Minister also announced a Rs 10,000 crore scheme for formalisation of micro food enterprises (MFE).
- The scheme will be launched to help 2 lakh MFEs by adopting cluster-based approach such as mango in UP, Kesar in Jammu & Kashmir, bamboo shoots in North-East, Chilli in Andhra Pradesh, tapioca in Tamil Nadu.
Rs 20,000 crores for Fishermen through Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
- Government will launch Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana for integrated, sustainable, inclusive development of marine and inland fisheries to plug critical gaps in fisheries value chain; move will provide employment to over 55 lakh people and double exports to Rs 1 lakh crore.
- Government will launch the PMMSY for integrated, sustainable, inclusive development of marine and inland fisheries
- Rs 20,000 crore for fishermen through Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). Rs 11,000 crore for activities in marine, inland fisheries and aquaculture. Rs 9,000 crore for infrastructure: Fishing harbours, cold chains, markets etc.
Highlights: –
Government to bring in law to implement agriculture marketing reforms to provide marketing choices to farmers; law will provide adequate choices to farmer to sell produce at attractive price.
Government will amend Essential Commodities Act to enable better price realisation for farmers; Agriculture food stuffs including cereals, edible oils, oilseeds, pulses, onions and potato will be deregulated.
Government extends Operation Greens from Tomatoes, Onion and Potatoes (TOP) to ALL fruits and vegetables: Rs 500-crore additional fund provided to extend Operation.
Government to implement a scheme for infrastructure development related to Beekeeping; aims to increase income for 2 lakh beekeepers with special thrust on capacity building of women.
To promote Herbal Cultivation in India Government commits Rs 4000 crore; move aims to cover 10 lakh hectare under herbal cultivation in 2 years; corridor of medicinal plants to come up across banks of Ganga.
Government announces an Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund worth Rs. 15,000 crore to support private investment in Dairy Processing, value addition and cattle feed infrastructure.
New scheme has been launched for interest subvention @ 2% per annum to dairy cooperatives for 2020-21 aimed at unlocking Rs 5000 crores additional liquidity, benefitting 2 crore farmers, she said.
