In line with the Government decision to start Direct Benefit Transfer for kerosene, agriculture experts have sought the same mechanism for fertiliser subsidy as well.

“We are ready for direct benefit transfer of subsidy to farmers and are prepared to work with the Government on this. We will capture the last mile data on customers and farmers and hope that next year onwards direct transfers can start,” said Satish Chander, Director General, Fertiliser Association of India after a pre-Budget meeting on Monday.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday kicked off pre-Budget consultations, starting with agriculturists who have sought a higher outlay for the farm sector as well as market reforms to implement APMC reforms in states and higher minimum support price.

There should be a target of spending two per cent of the farm sector GDP on research and development in the sector over the next two years,” said Ajay Vir Jakhar, chairman, Bharat Kishak Samaj.

The meeting was also attended by representatives from farmer groups including Consortium of Indian Farmers Association as well as experts and representatives from IFFCO.

In the afternoon, the Finance Minister will meet trade union leaders for their inputs for the Union Budget 2016-17.

Related Topics