Assam Budget 2023–24 and area of intervention in agricultural sector

Dr Hemchandra Saikia

As agriculture is the main source of livelihood for more than 70% of its total population in the state of Assam, either directly or indirectly, where about 27.41 lakh farm families are engaged in this noble occupation for feeding 3.12 crores of its population, the allocation of due funds in this sector and its implementation are very crucial and critical in pushing our agricultural activities in the right and desirable direction. Hence, it is very essential to disseminate the zest of the state budget in every financial year among all those associated with this holy sector of the economy, from where our food comes, and contribute to food security.

This year, the Assam Government State Budget for the year 2023–24 was presented by Finance Minister Mrs. Ajanta Neoga in the Assam Legislative Assembly, covering all sectors of the economy for the greater interest of its people in the path of development and peace. As a large sector of the state population depends upon agriculture and allied activities for their livelihood, development, and peace, it is very important to discuss some important aspects of the budget concerned with this sector for its fruitful implementation.

This year, the budget allocation for the agriculture sector is reported at 2161.74 crores out of the aggregate expenditure of Rs 3,21,081.75 crore, which is 0.67 percent of its total outlay. Of course, efficient and timely utilisation of the full allotted amount in the stipulated time is more important than the amount of money allocated, and if able to utilise the full amount in the right type of activities at the right time and place, then the state can excel well in the right direction, yielding both short-term and long-term fillips to the agriculture sector in particular and the economy in general, paving the way for the desirable betterment of our farming community.

As agriculture also includes some crucial allied fields like animal husbandry, the fishery sector, and sericulture, budget allocation to these sectors also influences the productivity, production, and profit of these allied sectors, influencing the pattern and level of livelihood options for our farming community. This year, the state government has rightly allocated Rs 621.25 crore for the animal husbandry sector, Rs 175.02 crore for the fishery sector, and Rs 377.75 crore for the handloom, textile, and sericulture sectors, which are critical for the right livelihood attributes and economic development of the state. Government intention and intervention to make Assam self-sufficient in meat, milk, and eggs is a welcome step capable of contributing to the path of a developed state in the country and requires effective action on a sustainable basis. Similarly, as the demand for local and indigenous fish species is very high with a very high remunerative price, due intervention in this aspect is highly appreciable and profitable. Again, sericulture is a high-value proposition of livelihood for a good section of the people of Assam, so government intervention to support 4299 weavers and the establishment of a model sericulture village covering 1250 beneficiaries is some of the encouraging intervention for the right development of livelihood and economic impetus in the state.

Although details of the allocation of funds for intervention in various activities are not yet accessible at ease, reported areas of intervention are: area expansion in cultivable fallow land for field crops like rice, mustard, and rapeseed; pulse; maize; and potato. Another area of intervention is 2 lakh hectares of oil palm cultivation in the next five years. The budget also places emphasis on the Assam Millet Mission in tune with India’s International Year of Millet Mission 2023, the Assam Fodder Mission, the State Floriculture Mission, and the Storage Mission to create one million metric tonnes of capacity for agriculture and horticultural crops. Besides, the budget speaks about the production of quality seed under APART, nanourea, and suitable agricultural education.

Intervention required:

Although it is important to allocate the right amount of budget for the all-round development of the agricultural sector and its esteemed farming community on a sustainable basis, it is more critical to implement some interventions that can help maximise the utilisation of the allotted funds in the right fields at the right time and place where there is optimum economic and physical efficiency, thus making a budget successful. In the process of implementing the budget in agricultural activities, some interventions that need due attention and implementation at the right time and place are:

1. Implementing the plans, programmes, or activities at the right time and place

2. Benefits should actually go to the true beneficiaries and the places or localities for which they are fixed or targeted.

3. The quality of all activities, such as input supply, infrastructure provided or installed, and technology provided, should be ensured without any discrimination or bias on any parameters.

4. At the end-user level, all support services provided must be used sustainably for the right purposes at the right time and place without minimum misuse.

5. Continuous monitoring and evaluation

6. Giving due weight to ecology and the environment so that it results in little ecological imbalance and environmental pollution.

7. Economic and efficient use of all inputs or facilities developed or provided.

8. Regular and large-scale location-specific improved agricultural technology demonstrations are needed at the right time for enhancing productivity and income and also to increase the area of technology adoption.

9. Exposure visit of farmers to ideal farms of various research institutions within and outside states and also to successful farms of agri-entrepreneurs or farmers across the district or states.

10. Creating the ideal marketing environment or services for the generation of enough leverage or dividend with optimum producer and consumer satisfaction, including satisfaction with the due number of middlemen, provided the role of middlemen cannot be ignored,

11. The process of implementation should be such that the generated outcome is able to retain farmers in the agricultural field and attract farmers or rural youth towards agriculture year after year, providing them with due respect and income in society and the economy.

Thus, due emphasis is always needed in the implementation of all the activities in due space and time within the periphery of the allocated budget, and if it happens so, it will definitely result in the maximum achievement of a budget decision in any field of economic activity, which may ultimately enhance productivity, production, profit, and employment of resources for a sustainable economy in the state. The sector may be agriculture or another field.

So I hope this budget will definitely serve those fields or areas for which it is meant and for which it will need very coordinated and effective efforts from all concerned with a very strong determination, dedication, sincerity, and honesty. I hope it will happen.