Union Budget 2018: reforms in Indian Agriculture

Abstract

The Indian farmer faces more
marketing problems than production
of the crops. Middlemen are the bane
of Indian agriculture.The information
needs to be disseminated to
stakeholders rigorously at regular
period to take decisions for sale of
the produce. The staff of the line
department be delegated the job of
tying up farmer produce with
appropriate regional markets and the
Processing Industry for the best price
realization. Cultivation of high value
agriculture/ crops in clusters bring
advantages of scales of operations and
can spur establishment of entire chain
from production to marketing,
besides giving recognition to the
districts for specific crops. A farm to
fork approach entails several activities
which fall in jurisdiction of several
ministries that generates
impediments and risks in agricultural
management. Budget will consolidate
gains with focus on strengthening
agriculture economy and ensure
benefits reach eligible beneficiaries.
The intent of government on
implementation of a series of
fundamental structure reforms in
agriculture is going to overcome the
agrarian crisis to an extent. However,
the magnitude of benefits of reforms
will become evident with time only.