FM has tried to bring back focus to the core sectors: Richard van der Merwe

The Union budget has set the direction for a balanced growth, emphasising on increasing agricultural productivity and reducing rural distress through a host of social reforms. The Finance Minister’s proposal to focus on agriculture and farmers' welfare and allocation of over Rs 5000 crore towards crop insurance scheme, direct benefit transfers for fertilisers, enhanced irrigation acreage and agri credit targets to the tune of Rs 9 lakh crore is a very welcome move.
 
The outlay towards development of roads and national highways will help in the movement of perishable goods, alleviating wastage of produce and maximising returns for farmers on one hand and driving accessibility and price parity across the country for end consumers on the other. All in all the Finance Minister has tried his level best to bring back focus to the core sectors with his nine pillars agenda.
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Richard van der Merwe is vice chairman, managing director and CEO of Bayer CropScience Ltd