CEO-SPEAK: Ajay S Shriram

BUDGET WISHLIST

"Increased investments in rural hubs, rural retailing and rural infrastructure, catalysed by corporate sector investments, is what will drive the agriculture sector in the future."

What should the government do ?

Ensure effective delivery of credit by approved Non Banking Finance Companies to undertake rural banking. This would encourage setting up of hi-tech branches in rural areas by scheduled banks. There is also a need to promote "crop diversification" .

What should the government not do ?

Current agricultural policies still seem to favour self-sufficiency in foodgrain. This needs to be stopped. Instead of the concept of food surplus, the policies need to reorient to the concept of maximising farm household income.

CHAMBER SPEAK

CII
Excise duty on processed food and agro-based products under any chapter, be it 16 per cent or 8 per cent, ought to be exempted. Excise on technical grade pesticides and agricultural formulations should be reduced to half of the present 16 per cent.

FICCI
There should be zero per cent excise duty on all farm produce, processed foods and packaging material required in the agro-based and food processing industry.

ASSOCHAM
The Agriculture Products and Marketing Act, Essential Commodities Act and manditax ought to be abolished to create a national market for agro goods.