Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal thanks CM and FM for 20 percent increase in Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Budget

Chandigarh: Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal has congratulated Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema for presenting people-friendly and development-oriented budget. He said that under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, a balanced budget has been presented that would take care of every section of the society. Dhaliwal thanked the Chief Minister and the Finance Minister for allocating 20 percent more budget than last year for agriculture sector of the state.

He said that for the year 2023-24, Rs 13,888 crore has been earmarked for agriculture and allied sectors. Dhaliwal further said that Punjab Government proposes to introduce a “New Agricultural Policy” with the objective to conserve natural resources and increase farmers’ income. State has already constituted a Committee of Experts to prepare a comprehensive Agricultural Policy for the State.
Dhaliwal said that this is the first government after independence to introduce Insurance to farmers to save them from vagaries of the weather and other uncertainties. The modalities of the crop insurance scheme are being worked out.
He also thanked the Chief Minister and the Finance Minister for allocating 3319 cr. in FY 2023-24 i.e. an increase of 11% over FY 2022-23 for rural development and panchayats. Out of this, Rs 150 crore would be spent to construct 10,000 houses in rural areas.