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The central government along with various state governments, will establish a DPI or Digital Public Infrastructure framework for farmers and their lands in about three years read more
 "FM Sitharaman’s Budget 2024 gives farmers and agriculture a digital makeover")
The finance minister also declared that this year, details of about 6 crores of farmers and their lands will be registered into Farmer & Land registries, using DPI. Image Credit: Reuters, Reuters
In today’s Budget presentation, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman outlined several new initiatives aimed at bolstering India’s agriculture sector.
One of the key announcements was the release of 109 high-yielding and climate-resilient varieties of 32 field and cultivation crops for farmers this financial year. This move aims to enhance productivity and resilience in agriculture, one of the nine priorities set for the year ahead.
Buoyed by the success of the pilot project, the central government along with various state governments, will establish a DPI or Digital Public Infrastructure framework for farmers and their lands in about three years, announced Finance Minister Sitharaman.
“For this year, a Digital Crop Survey for Kharif crops using DPI will be taken up in about 400 districts,” she announced.
The finance minister also declared that this year, details of about 6 crores of farmers and their lands will be registered into Farmer & Land registries, using DPI.
Last but certainly not least, farmers in 5 states will also be issued a JanSamarth-based Kisan Credit Cards
The government plans to undertake a comprehensive review of agricultural research to develop climate-resilient seeds. This review will be supervised by domain experts to ensure its effectiveness and relevance. Additionally, the government, in collaboration with state governments, will promote digital public infrastructure for agriculture, facilitating better access to information and resources for farmers.
In a significant push towards sustainable farming practices, the government announced that one crore farmers will be introduced to natural farming over the next two years. This initiative aligns with the broader goal of increasing productivity while maintaining environmental sustainability.
Reflecting on the previous full budget for 2023-24, the overall allocation for the agriculture ministry was increased to Rs 1.25 lakh crore for FY24, with Rs 60,000 crore dedicated to the PM-KISAN scheme. Emphasis was placed on promoting modern agricultural technologies, particularly benefiting small farmers. Additional measures included the promotion of millets and support for agricultural startups.
Despite these efforts, India’s agricultural sector faces enduring challenges. Agriculture’s share in the economy has been declining and currently stands at less than 15%, primarily due to the rapid growth of the industry and services sectors. However, agriculture remains crucial, with over 70% of the population depending on rural incomes and about 70% of the poor living in rural areas.
Data shows that the majority of India’s farmers operate on marginal and small holdings, with less than five acres each. Small and marginal farmers, holding less than two hectares of land, constitute 86% of the total cultivators in the country. These small holdings are often unviable for meaningful agricultural activities, making government support and access to institutional credit essential for these farmers.
The Budget 2024-25 reflects a comprehensive approach to address these challenges, focusing on enhancing productivity, resilience, and sustainability in agriculture. With significant investments and initiatives, the government aims to create a more robust and efficient agricultural sector that can support the livelihood of millions of farmers across India.
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English (US) ·