Agri Budget stresses on irrigation infra

No provision for free mobiles, Total outlay at Rs 10,903 cr

The Agriculture Budget for 2015-16 has given priority on infrastructure creation in the irrigation sector with more than 22 per cent allocation on it. Total outlay for the sector in 2015-16 has been pegged at Rs 10,903.62 crore, a rise of 14.26 per cent over previous fiscal.

But unlike the previous two Budgets dedicated to the farm sector, this Budget lacks any provision for providing free mobile handsets to farmers under 'Digital Mandi scheme'. The water resources department has been allocated Rs 6,212.15 crore, up from Rs 5,087.69 crore earmarked last year. Out of it, major and medium irrigation projects will have major share at Rs 2,229 crore, against Rs 1,985 crore made in last year budget.

While allocation for expenses in minor irrigation projects has been truncated to Rs 961 crore, lower than Rs 1,167 crore last year, major priority has been provided to mega lift irrigation scheme, where expenses have been estimated at Rs 673 crore almost double from Rs 325 crore provision made in the current fiscal.

In the mega lift operation scheme, the government has provision to provide irrigation facilities in upland areas of the state by pumping in excess water available in river catchment areas.

Agriculture and food production department has been allocated Rs 3,124.38 crore, a rise of 14.53 per cent over the current year's provision. Major expense estimate for the department in areas such as deep bore well scheme has been unchanged at Rs 520 crore and the amount earmarked for interest rate subvention on short term term crop loan has been lowered to Rs 384 crore, against Rs 426 crore and in case of warehouse creation, the amount has been cut to Rs 100 crore, compared with Rs 150 crore made in previous Budget. A sum of Rs 100 crore has been provided for Potato Mission aimed at increasing productivity and creation of buffer stock.