The Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, affiliated to the CPI(M), has said that the interests of farmers have been neglected in the Union Budget.
“It failed to address the prime demand of farmers like guaranteed minimum support price for agriculture produce”, he said and added that demands such as one-time waiver of crop loans, subsidy for urea and other agriculture inputs have not been addressed.
The Tamizhaga Cauvery Vivasayigal Sangam State president, N.Palaniappan said on Saturday that the Budget failed to address the issues relating to organic farming and there was no announcement about the much anticipated enhancement of annual assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme.
The Union Budget proposals to give a push for pulses and oilseed production, enhanced credit through Kisan Credit Cards and cotton productivity have been welcomed by farmers organisations in Tiruchi region.
The Budget announcements on promoting pulses, cotton and vegetables production and initiatives to give a push for agriculture and rural development are welcome. However, it remains to be seen how well they would be implemented in States which do not have cordial relations with the Centre, said Mahadhanapuram Rajaram, president, Cauvery Irrigation Farmers Welfare Association.
The Bharathiya Kisan Sangam said that the Budget had offered some comfort to farmers through initiatives to promote pulses and oil seeds production, and increasing farmers income. The enhancement of the credit to ₹5 lakh through Kisan Credit Cards would help check migration of farmers and start business ventures in the villages, said N.Veerasekaran, State secretary of the association.
He, however, expressed disappointment over the lack of announcement on ensuring remunerative prices for farm produce, GST exemption for farm inputs, and increasing the assistance under the PM-KISAN Scheme.
Published – February 01, 2025 09:15 pm IST