Par Panel Urges Govt to Boost Agri Budget Amid Climate, Market Challenges

• A Parliamentary panel recommended increasing the budget allocation for the agriculture department.
• The panel cited challenges like climate change, market volatility, and the need for farmer welfare as key reasons.
• Specific recommendations include subsidies for electric tractors, integrating AI with precision farming, and educational support for children of small and marginal farmers.
• The report highlighted a continuous decline in agriculture's budget proportion within the total Central outlay and noted underutilization of allocated funds.
• It stressed that agriculture, employing 46.1% of the workforce but contributing only one-fifth of national income, urgently needs increased public investment for inclusive growth and food security.