Hindustan Times – Online

The Union Budget is expected to announce measures to boost agri start-ups which are fast becoming the backbone of farm value chains, provide higher allocations for farm research, and launch performance-linked incentive (PLI) schemes in the food sector which were announced as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India ) programme, officials with knowledge of the developments said. he farm sector is crucial to the Indian economy because it employs the most people and spurs overall demand. It assumes greater significance this year as it was one of the few to record positive growth during the pandemic. Agriculture has chugged on unharmed by successive waves of coronavirus infections. In 2020-21, when India faced a rare ...

The Times of India – Online

With nearly half of India’s working population involved in agriculture, the percentage share of gross value added of agriculture and allied sectors to the total economy has increased to 20.2 per cent in 2020-2021 from 17.6 per cent in 2018-19 thanks to a string of policy measures as well as increased budgetary allocation towards the sector since 2016. In the upcoming budget, the government is expected to incentivise value addition in agriculture that can boost farmers’ incomes by encouraging backward linkages to the farm. Additional transport, marketing and branding incentives for exports of diverse farm produce are also likely. The government is also eyeing incentives over and above the Rs 10,900 crore production-linked ...