Rajasthan’s farmers have reason to rejoice as the Bhajan Lal government unveils its budget with significant announcements aimed at their welfare. Under this interim budget, several major announcements have been made to benefit the farming community. Let’s delve into the key highlights of the agricultural initiatives in Rajasthan.

Announcement of New Schemes

The state government has announced the launch of the Rajasthan Agriculture Inflow Mission, allocating an initial provision of Rs. 2000 crores. Under this initiative, various endeavors will be undertaken, including the establishment of 20,000 farm ponds, laying down 10,000 kilometers of irrigation pipelines, installation of fencing for 50,000 farmers, setting up vermiculture units for 5,000 farmers, and the establishment of new agro-processing clusters, food parks, and horticulture infrastructure. Additionally, 500 custom hiring centers will be established, and the introduction of new technologies such as drones is proposed.

Promotion of Millets Production

To bolster millet production, maize will be provided to 1.2 million farmers, pearl millet to 800,000 farmers, mustard to 700,000 farmers, mung beans to 400,000 farmers, and high-quality sorghum seeds to 100,000 farmers.

Annual Support for Farmers

According to the Rajasthan government, farmers will receive an additional Rs. 2,000 under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme, bringing the total annual amount to Rs. 8,000. Currently, the central government provides Rs. 6,000 annually under this scheme.

Announcement of Gopal Credit Card Scheme

In addition to the conservation of cattle, essential steps will be taken to support families engaged in this work. Dairy farmers will be provided with interest-free loans of up to Rs. 100,000. A Gopal Credit Card scheme, akin to the Kisan Credit Card (KCC), has been announced to facilitate the purchase of dairy-related equipment. This announcement of interest-free loans up to Rs. 100,000 will benefit 500,000 families.

Increase in MSP for Wheat

Furthermore, the minimum support price (MSP) for wheat, the primary Rabi crop in the state, has been increased from Rs. 2,275 to Rs. 2,400 per quintal, marking an increment of Rs. 125 per quintal.

Announcements for Women

The budget also includes significant announcements for women. The Ladli Incentive Scheme will commence, wherein the income of women from 5 lakh families will be augmented by more than Rs. 100,000. Under this scheme, in impoverished families, upon the birth of a daughter, a savings bond of Rs. 100,000 will be provided. Furthermore, under the PM Matru Vandana Yojana, the amount for women at their first childbirth will be increased from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 6,000. This initiative is expected to incur expenses of Rs. 90 crores.