While presenting the 2014-15 general budget, Jaitley said that the government will also set up Agri-Tech Infrastructure Fund of $17 million.
Minister Jaitley said that farming as an activity contributes nearly 1/6th to our National GDP and a major portion of our population is dependent on it for livelihood. It has risen to the challenge of making India largely self-sufficient in providing food for a growing population.
To make farming competitive and profitable, there is an urgent need to step up investment, both public and private, in agro-technology development and creation and modernization of existing agri-business infrastructure, the minister stressed.