Budget 2017: Renewed focus on agriculture

Govt will focus on agriculture, with a 24% increase in agri, rural and allied sector allocation

The most important part of any Budget is to keep revenues and expenditures somewhat in sync. And Budget 2017 does that quite well. Of course, there is much that I would have liked to see but did not, from simplification of the tax code to public sector reform to improved protection of life, property and freedoms.

However, there is also a clear direction which deserves comment — the government will focus on agriculture, with a 24 per cent increase in agri, rural and allied sector allocations. No one can fault the intention, but what is the mechanism? If the government