Benefits in farm sector need to be ‘clear and evident’ for ‘equitable’ economic growth: Arun Jaitley
Ahead of the Budget, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said the agriculture sector is the top priority for the government because the country’s economic growth is not “justifiable and equitable” unless the benefits are “clear and evident” in the farm sector.
Therefore, the government’s priority is to ensure the gains reach the farmers and the growth is visible even in the farm sector, he said at an event here. As per latest Central Statistics Office (CSO) data, the country’s economic growth is expected to slow to a four-year low of 6.5% in the 2017-18 fiscal, the lowest under the Modi-led government, mainly due to poor performance of agriculture and manufacturing sectors.
The CSO has pegged farm and allied sector growth to slow to 2.1% in the current fiscal from 4.9% in the preceding year.
“India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and the growth is benefiting people in different sectors. “But maximum population is dependent on agri-sector and unless the gains are clear and evident, the (economic) growth is not justifiable and equitable,” Jaitley said after launching options trading in guarseed on NCDEX. Among the priority areas, agriculture sector is on the top, he said. “Ensuring the benefits reach …read more
