MUST TABS IN THE BUDGET MENU

Farmer in Field, Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, India. Source: Pallavi Rajkhowa, IFPRI (flickr)

Every year close to the budget dates in February, newspapers and magazines publish industry experts ideas and opinion on what to expect from the Budget and what not to expect from the Budget. This year IFPRI researchers have listed priorities to be included in the upcoming BUDGET 2015.

Dr. Devesh Roy, Research Fellow, IFPRI article in Economic Times on Money Where the Mouth Is puts food safety in the budget priority list. The authors explains the need to expand the budget portfolio towards food safety as it is integral part of food security. The author stresses

1. Investment is needed in laboratories, information campaigns and certification systems
2. Credible food certification system needs to be set up
3. Develop better domestic production standards to facilitate trade and mitigate risks in the international markets

Dr. P K Joshi, Director South Asia, IFPRI article in Financial Express on Sowing Sustainable Agriculture list five priority area on climate smart agriculture. The areas of attention are

1. Programs that can mitigate climate change risks for the framers especially the smallholder
2. Need to promote solar energy for irrigation
3. Micro irrigation in the form of drip and sprinkler irrigation
4. Soil-test based nutrient management is critical to improve soil  health imbalance
5. To improve soil and human health areas under pulses cultivation and increasing the production of these crops is necessary