Terming the Budget for 2010-11 as growth-oriented, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today said the measures announced would help achieve targeted four per cent growth during the 11th Plan in the farm sector.
"This is a growth-oriented Budget. The allocation for agriculture and allied sector is better than last year's. I am confident that the measures announced in the Budget will help achieve agriculture growth and the overall growth of the economy," Pawar told reporters here.
Asked if hike in diesel price will increase production cost for farmers, Pawar said: "Nothing will happen with one rupee rise in diesel price."
In 2009-10, the agriculture and allied sector is estimated to decline by 0.2 per cent. The government has set a target of 4 per cent farm growth in the 11th Plan (2007-12).
The minister also said that he was satisfied with the fund allocation for food subsidy and other flagship programmes like National Food Security Mission and National Horticulture Mission that promote foodgrain production and productivity.
"The Budget has made a provision of Rs 55,000 crore for food subsidy. I am quite satisfied about this. Last year, the allocation was Rs 54,000 crore, which rose to Rs 65,000 crore." he said.
The minister also said taxes are also reduced on mumber of items like pipes used in agriculture and small scale industry to help farmers adopt new farm machineries.