Our Correspondent / NEW DELHI
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today stressed on the measures to boost Economic and Social Infrastructure of Rural Sector and ways to eradicate unemployment and poverty through development of Agriculture and Allied Sectors as well as Non-Farm Sector.
In her first pre-budget consultation with the Stakeholder Groups from Agriculture and Rural Development Sectors in New Delhi, Ms Sitharaman said,the concerns of Agriculture Sector are high on the priority of the present government. She stressed on the representation of the different regions of the country so that their specific needs relating to these sectors can also be considered.
The Finance Minister also emphasized upon encouraging start-ups which can remove the segmentation in agriculture market and help in providing remunerative markets.
According to an official release, the main areas of discussion during the meeting included agriculture research and extension services, rural development, non-farm sector, horticulture, food processing, animal husbandry, fisheries and start-ups in agricultural sector among others.
During the meeting, representatives of the Agricultural and Rural Development sectors submitted various suggestions to boost investment in agricultural sector and enhance market access to farmers.
Suggestions were also given to improve food processing sector and introduction of technology-intensive processes in non-farm sector. Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur was also present in the meeting. Ms Sitharaman will present the budget on the 5th of next month.