Post Covid 19: Kick start Indian Economy: Agri and Rural Push

While Covid 19 had hit India hard, early lock down ensured that semi urban and rural India was not impacted as severely as urban India. Now, that country is opened up in phased manner, rural and semi urban India will be first in line to provide consumption and supply push.

Hon. Finance Minister, during her budget speech on 1st of February 2020 had announced a series of measures for rural sector with an aim to double farmer income by 2022. It is time to fast track the measures already announced. Some of these can be real game changer:

1.     To support Agri Storage, Warehousing and Cold Storage

2.     To support states to implement one fruit-one district plan

3.     Comprehensive measures proposed for 100 water-stressed districts

4.     To help farmer set up 20 lakh farmers standalone pumps and 15 lakh solarise water pumps

5.     To raise fish production by 200 lakh tonne

6.     To double milk production capacity by 2025

Other possible areas requiring attention are technology (Seeds, Crop Care, Micro Irrigation), Food processing, Packaging technologies, Social / Cluster mobilisation, Marketing, Logistics and Supply Chain, Regional Branding, Skill development, Quality Management, Availability of Social Sector Funds / Agritech funds.

We proudly say that we are second largest producer of fruit and vegetable only after China. The statistics also suggests that China represent ~39% vs India ~10% of the world's fruit and vegetable production (Fruit.net). I see a huge untapped opportunity. Can we tap it”?

I pick this quote from abyfarmers.com “Let us make all efforts to encourage youth to take up agriculture as their preferred livelihood option by facilitating them to get better returns on agriculture.” Let us create a vibrant agricultural economy with technological innovation.

Yes, we can. Yes, we will

(For constructive discussion only)

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