The Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) has complimented the Government for the giving the top priority to Agriculture Sector and announcing Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana to cover 100 districts with low productivity, moderate crop intensity and below average credit parameters, launching programme in pulses with focus on Urad, Tour and Masoor, National Mission for increasing cotton productivity and Mission on high yielding seed variety and paste resistance and Atmanirbhar in urea requirements and other measures to boost the overall agriculture productivity and production in the country.
SEA further welcome the Government move on focus on food processing industry and artificial intelligence for agriculture sector and setting up an additional Gene bank for enhancing plant productivity. In last year budget, Government had announced “Atmanirbhar Oilseed Abhiyan” and has allocated Rs. 10,000 crores for the next 6 years to reduce our dependence on edible oil to 30% from current level of 60%.
SEA noted that last year’s allocation was too low for visible and impactful result on oilseed production and productivity. Government is focusing on agriculture as a Growth Engine of the Economy and targeting to reduce dependence on import of edible oil. SEA hoped for an allocation of additional Annual Fund of at least Rs. 5000 crores for Oilseed Development Programme.