Union Budget 2012-13-New Agricultural Missions Proposed

New Missions Proposed in the 12th Five Year Plan Amalgamating Host of Activities in the Agriculture Field 

On setting the Agenda for agriculture in the 12th Five Year Plan, the Finance Minister ShriPranab Mukherjee announced revamping of five Missions as part of his budgetary proposals in LokSabha today. The Government intends to merge various activities into a set of missions to address the needs of agricultural development. 

The National Food Security Mission aims to bridge the yield gap in respect of paddy, wheat, pulses, millet and fodder. The ongoing Integrated Development of Pulses Villages, Promotion of Nutri-cereals and Accelerated Fodder Development Programme would now become a part of this Mission. 

The Finance Minister said that National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture including Micro Irrigation is being taken up as a part of the National Action Plan on climate change. The Rainfed Area Development Programme is to be merged in this Mission. 

The Finance Minister Shri Mukherjee hoped that the National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm will increase production and productivity of oilseeds and oil palm. 

In the new proposals, the National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology focuses on adoption of appropriate technologies by farmers for improving productivity and efficiency in farm operations. 

The National Horticulture Mission will now also promote horticulture diversification including an initiative on saffron. 

The Finance Minister said that the Mission for Protein Supplement is being strengthened. He announced that with a view to improving the productivity in the dairy sector, a Rs. 2,242 crore project is being launched with World Bank assistance. Shri Mukherjee said that to broaden the scope of production of fish to coastal aquaculture, apart from fresh water aquaculture, the outlay in 2012-13 is being stepped up to Rs. 500 crore. He assured that suitable allocations are also being made for poultry, piggery and goat rearing.

 
The food processing sector has been growing at an average rate of over 8 per cent over the past 5 years. In order to have a better outreach and to provide more flexibility to suit local needs, it has been decided that a new centrally sponsored scheme titled “National Mission on Food Processing” would be started in cooperation with the State Governments in 2012-13.