“The interim budget in 2014 had a very modest increase in financial outlay for the agri-biotechnology sector. With regard to the Budget 2015, widely expected to be a landmark budget, we were looking forward to seeing more stimulus for the agri-biotech industry to enable more productive and long-term gains for the sector. There are several new initiatives for the agri-sector announced by the FM that includes the creation of a unified national agriculture market, a renewed focus on micro-irrigation, as well as initiatives to improve rural infrastructure and an increase in farm credit. Having said that, the focus was clearly more on infrastructure and less on incentivising the agri-industry. While this will directly benefit the farm sector and help improve farm incomes, a more conducive policy for the agri-biotech industry would have been more welcome.
The writer is Director-General, ABLE-AG