Budget 2018: States may get more farm pricing freedom

Rural budget set to increase; likely to enhance market linkages for agri commodities

The Union Budget for 2018-19 is likely to emphasise quickening the market intervention scheme to give states more freedom to stabilise prices of agricultural commodities at the time of slump.

Besides, the Budget may focus on market linkages for farm products and strengthen the livelihood mission to address rural distress in the wake of electoral wounds suffered by the Bharatiya Janata Party in rural Gujarat, particularly Saurashtra.

As the prices of crops such as chana, tur, and oilseeds decline below the minimum support price, the Budget may directly allocate funds to states to intervene to stabilise prices through a programme.