The Finance Minister Jaitley assured that despite the constraints of the economy as it exists today, the Government will try its best to boost this sector. The Finance Minister was making the opening remarks while holding his first Pre-Budget Consultation with the representatives of the Agriculture Sector here.

Along with the Finance Minister, the meeting was attended by Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Dr. Arvind Mayaram, Finance Secretary, Ratan P Watal, Expenditure Secretary, Rajiv Takru, Revenue Secretary, Ashish Bahuguna, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation and other senior officers of the Ministry of Finance among others.

Various suggestions were received from the different representatives of the Agriculture Sector.Major suggestions include establishing a Kissan TV Channel to create awareness among farmers about new technologies, government programmes and quality parameters etc among others.

Other suggestions included timely decision on ‘Minimum Support Price’ at cost of production plus 50%, timely and efficient procurement policy, priority for mechanization in all commodities, setting-up of commodity wise board, water conservation as a national priority with focus on drip & sprinkler irrigation; timely completion of irrigation projects and linking of rivers; setting-up of National Water Authority and River Valley Authorities among others.

Other suggestions included use of information technology, new marketing technologies, setting- up of soil health testing facilities in each Panchayat, making animal husbandry a profitable occupation, and strengthening of agriculture research and extension facilities among others.