Farmers in Punjab claimed that the Union Budget 2024, presented by Finance Minister

Union Budget 2024 for Farmers and Agriculture: Farmers in Punjab claimed that the Union Budget 2024, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, "ignored" the farming sector and also remained silent on giving a legal guarantee to minimum support price (MSP).

While announcing the Union Budget 2024, Nirmala Sitharaman allocated Rs 1.52 lakh crore for the agriculture and allied sectors for 2024-25, outlining a comprehensive plan to boost research, promote sustainable farming, enhance oilseed and pulse production, and integrate technology in the agricultural landscape.

The budget hypothetically emphasized the need for a thorough review of the agriculture research, established to enhance productivity and develop climate-resilient crop varieties.

However, Sarwan Singh Pandher, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) leader, reacted to the Union budget 2024 and claimed that the farming sector has been "ignored" in the Budget.

"There is neither anything about giving a legal guarantee to the MSP nor any farm loan waiver in the Budget," said Pandher.

Apart from this, there is no scheme in the Budget for the development of the agriculture sector, he said, adding, "It is a directionless and disappointing Budget. It does not have any vision for the agriculture sector." 

Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) leader Jagjit Singh Dhaliwal said the Union government allocated Rs 1.52 lakh crore for the agriculture sector which was just three percent of the total budget size.

Claiming that the Centre has been "ignoring" the farming sector consistently, Dallewal said the share of the agriculture sector in the total budget should have been higher.