Price range 2021: Amid Opposition sloganeering, Sitharaman highlights build up in MSP underneath NDA

Presenting the Union Price range amid the continued protests towards the 3 new farm rules, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Monday mentioned the federal government is dedicated to the farmers’ welfare amid sloganeering from the Opposition benches to repeal the contentious rules.

Sitharaman mentioned the MSP regime has gone through a “sea exchange” to guarantee value a minimum of 1.five occasions of manufacturing value.

“The procurement has additionally persisted to extend at a gradual tempo. This has ended in an build up in cost to farmers considerably,” she mentioned.

Giving main points of the upward thrust in MSP-based procurement, the Finance Minister mentioned, “In case of wheat, the whole quantity paid to farmers in 2013-14 was once Rs 33,874 crore. In 2019-20, it was once Rs 62,802 crore.”

In 2020-21, she mentioned the volume paid to farmers was once over Rs 75,000 crore.

“The collection of wheat rising farmers that have been benefited larger in 2020-21 to 43.36 lakh in comparison to 35.57 lakh in 2019-20. That a lot of an build up inside of three hundred and sixty five days,” Sitharaman mentioned.

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi with MPs from Punjab poses for a gaggle {photograph}, as they come to wait the Price range Consultation 2021-22, at Parliament Space in New Delhi, Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. (PTI Picture)

For paddy, Sitharaman mentioned the volume paid in 2013-14 was once Rs 63,928 crore and it larger to Rs 1,41,930 crore in 2019-20. The Finance Minister mentioned it’s additional estimated to extend to Rs 1,72,752 crore in 2020-21.

The collection of beneficiaries larger from 1.2 crore in 2019-20 to at least one.54 crore in 2020-21.

For pulses, Sitharaman mentioned Rs 236 crore was once paid to farmers in 2013-14. “In 2019-20, this was once larger to Rs 8,285 crore. Now in 2020-21, it’s at Rs 10,530 crore, greater than 40 occasions build up from 2013-14,” she mentioned.

In a similar way, Rs 90 crore was once paid in 2013-14 to cotton farmers whilst Rs 25,974 crore has been paid in 2020-21 as of January 27.

In the meantime, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme witnessed a Rs 10,000-crore minimize in allocation. PM-Kisan’s finances has been lowered from Rs 75,000 crore in BE 2020-21 to Rs 65,000 crore in RE 2020-21, together with for the following fiscal.

Some other scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana, noticed a minimize in allocation. The scheme’s finances has been lowered from Rs 1,081 crore in BE 2020-21 to Rs 750 crore RE 2020-21 and Rs 700 crore in BE 2021-22.

Opposition protests towards farm rules

Because the minister began highlighting the federal government’s projects and achievements within the agriculture sector, Opposition contributors began challenging repeal of 3 new farm rules.

Congress MPs from Punjab, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Jasbir Singh Gill and Ravneet Singh Bittu wore black gowns in Lok Sabha to information their harmony with protesting farmers.

(L-R) Shiromani Akali Dal leaders Sukhbir Singh Badal, Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) MP Hanuman Beniwal cling placards as they level a protest towards the farm rules, throughout the Price range Consultation 2021-22, at Parliament Space in New Delhi, Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. (PTI Picture/Manvender Vashist)

SAD leaders Sukhbir Singh Badal and Harsimrat Kaur Badal additionally carried anti-farm legislation placards to mark their protest.

The farmers, principally from Punjab and Haryana, who’ve been tenting at Delhi’s borders since November 25 remaining yr, were challenging an entire repeal of the 3 farm rules promulgated by way of the Centre, fearing that they might result in the abolishment of the minimal fortify value (MSP) assured by way of the federal government on make a choice vegetation and would go away them on the mercy of giant corporates.

The 3 rules are: Farmers’ Produce Industry and Trade (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; Crucial Commodities (Modification) Act, 2020; and Farmers (Empowerment and Coverage) Settlement on Value Assurance and Farm Services and products Act, 2020.