Bihar slams Centre for funds cut under agri schemes

The 14th Finance Commission's award for devolution of Central taxes among the states today echoed in the state legislative assembly with a senior minister charging the NDA government with slashing funds under various agriculture schemes to Bihar.
Though Bihar stands to gain more funds under vertical division of central taxes among the states as envisaged by the 14th Finance Commission, we have been tripped by the Centre under formula adopted for horizontal division of the Central funds with funds being slashed in agriculture sector, Agriculture Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary informed the House while replying to debate on his department's budgetary allocation to the tune of Rs 2833 crore for 2015-16.

Making things more clear, he said that the norms for sharing formula between the Centre and the states have been re-worked under the 14th Finance Commission recommendations due to which Bihar will have to bear 25 per cent cost for implementation of the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) in Bihar under 75:25 formula as against 100 per cent funds being granted by the Centre earlier to the state.
Similarly, Bihar will have to bear additional financial burden for implementation of Mission For Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) under 75:25 sharing formula now as against 85:15 earlier, Chaudhary said, adding that our state will also lose out in terms of Central funds in another agriculture scheme - Rainfed Area Development Programme (RADP) under new sharing formula between the Centre and states.

Painting a bright picture of growth in agriculture sector in Bihar Rainfed Area Development Programme (RADP), the Agriculture Minister claimed that the state will cultivate sufficient foodgrains to meet consumption demand at 168 lakh metric tonne a year.
Our government has succeeded in doubling foodgrain production from 80.94 lakh metric tonne in 2005-06 to 172 lakh metric tonne in 2011-12, he said, adding the figure remained the same in 2012-13, but declined marginally in 2013-14 at 150 lakh metric tonne due to severe drought and cyclone Phailin.
The Agriculture Minister, at the same time, expressed concern at dependence on a large chunk of population in Bihar on agriculture for livelihood and suggested to the people to shift to other growing sectors for improving their lives.