Cut in central share in agri schemes causing fin burden: Bihar

The Centre's decision to slash funds in schemes related to agriculture is putting financial burden on Bihar, state Agriculture minister Ramvichar Rai today told the Legislative Assembly.
"Central government has reduced its share of funds in many schemes related to agriculture, thus putting additional financial strain on the state government. It is affecting agriculture department's growth," Rai said said during a debate in the Assembly on his department's Rs 2,718.12 crore budget demand for 2016-17.
Stating that the Centre has slashed its share in various schemes related to agriculture, Rai said it was reduced up to 60 per cent from 100 to 75 per cent in most of the schemes including Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, Accelerated Seed Development Programme, Horticulture scheme, Irrigation scheme etc.

"The BJP government at the Centre is putting onus on
cities by making 'smart' cities, whereas the grand secular alliance government has taken a decision to make 'smart' villages and has put emphasis on the development of agriculture through an 'agriculture roadmap'.
"The state has set an ambitious target of 245.15 lakh MT of food grains production in 2016-17 and this would include 99.40 lakh MT of rice, 79.05 lakh of wheat and 5,060 lakh MT of maize," Rai said.

A cut motion was moved by BJP member Niraj Kumar Singh,which was rejected. Singh, while participating in the debate,said this was an anti-farmer budget as the government has reduced it by around Rs 100 crore.

The agriculture department's budget in 2015-16 was Rs 2,833.23 crore.
Later, BJP members led by Arun Kumar Sinha boycotted the government's reply saying that the state government was not replying to questions raised by Opposition members and instead criticising the central government.
Sinha said the Centre has demanded land for opening various institutions in Bihar, but the state government was not providing land for the projects.
RJD member Mundrika Singh Yadav created a furore in the House for a while by making comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Yadav's statement angered the BJP members who protested and stood on their seat following which, the remarks were expunged from the proceedings of the House.

The Assembly passed the agriculture department's budget demand of Rs 2,718.12 crore for the financial year 2016-17 by voice vote.