Focus on soil health, farmers producer organisations, credit for joint farming groups, technology-driven second green revolution with focus on higher productivity are some of the positives of Union Budget 2014–15, hailed S.S. Rajsekar, managing trustee of Chennai- based NGO, National Agro Foundation. “I am happy that these areas attracted the attention of the government which NAF has successfully demonstrated and has been advocating over a decade.” He said the government’s move to establish 100 soil testing laboratories was a clear direction in improving the farm productivity which would help trigger 4 per cent growth in agriculture sector.
Appreciating the holistic approach in farm sector with creation of Agri Tech Infrastructure Fund, National Adaptation Fund and Price Stabilization Fund, increased allocation in rural infrastructure development, warehouse infrastructure and irrigation; he was optimistic that these efforts would stabilise prices and would be a boon for farmers. However, coordination between the Centre and the State governments in delivery would be the key for desired results, he said. The NAF established by late C Subramaniam, the architect of India’s Green Revolution; has been working with a “Soil to Market” approach to usher in second green revolution.
