Punjab Budget: Rs 15,000 crore for agriculture sector, Rs 7,715 crore for free electricity
Punjab: The Punjab budget allocated ₹15,377 crore for the agriculture sector, of which ₹7,715 crore will be allocated for providing free electricity to farmers. Given that rice is a mainstay of Punjab’s economy, allocations for this sector have been increased by 6 percent. ₹40 crore has been allocated for direct seeding (DSR) of rice; ₹15 crore has been allocated for a pilot project to promote a shift from paddy to maize in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Bathinda, Sangrur, Jalandhar, and Kapurthala districts. Farmers who make this shift will receive an incentive of ₹17,500 per hectare.
The subsidy for crop residue management will be ₹600 crore, compared to ₹402 crore last year. A ₹1,300 crore project will be launched to promote climate-resilient and high-value horticultural crops. Rs 100 crore has been set aside for fair milk procurement prices for dairy farmers and Rs 270 crore for timely payment of sugarcane dues. Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian praised the state government’s commitment to the agricultural economy.
