Union Minister for Food processing industry Mrs Harsimarat Kaur Badal today welcomed the union budget and described it a futuristic, pro-people and pro-farmers which will give boost to domestic growth and industrial economy.
Expressing happiness over the budget Mrs Badal said Rs. 47,912 crore has been allocated for agriculture and irrigation sector with 84% increase than the previous year would boost growth in agriculture production besides enhancing income of farmers. Thanking the prime minister and finance minister for approving and announcing 100% FDI in retail of food produced and manufactured in India, she said it would provide a tremendous impetus to investment in food processing sector thereby benefitting farmers and create vast employment opportunities.
Union minister said the move would provide better prices to farmers for their produce through assured marketing mechanism as organized retailers would promote contract farming for quality products. She also welcomed the implementation of unified agriculture marketing scheme which envisages a common e-market platform to procure agri-horti produce of farmers.To promote use of refrigerated containers, Mrs Badal also thanked Mr Jaitley for reducing the basic custom and excise duty to 5% and 6% respectively which was earlier 10% and 12.5%.The minister also hailed the enhancement in allocating Rs 90,625 crore for various welfare schemes for women which was 12% than the previous year which outlines the priorities of this government and the vision of Narendra Modi.
Mrs Badal thanked the finance minister for allocating funds for commemoration of Guru Gobind Singh 350th birth anniversary to be celebrated during this year. Terming the budget historic and realistic she said that Mr Modi and Mr Jaitly has taken a right decision to allow retail shops to operate all 7 days of the week which would help the marginal shopkeepers. She also welcomed the announcement to provide LPG connections to rural households and poor strata which would change the living conditions of rural folk