Rs. 1 lakh crore to be engaged for agricultural infrastructure

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today said that Rs 1 lakh crore fund will be created for agriculture infrastructure projects.

She is addressing the third of a series of press conferences meant to outline India’s efforts to reboot its economy that has been hit hard due to the coronavirus pandemic. This fund will be used for setting up cold chains and post-harvest management infrastructure, she said while announcing the third tranche of COVID-19 relief package.

She also announced a Rs 10,000 crore scheme for formalization of micro food enterprises (MFE).

The scheme will be launched to help 2 lakh MFEs by adopting cluster-based approach such as mango in Uttar Pradesh, kesar in Jammu & Kashmir, bamboo shoots in North-East, chilli in Andhra Pradesh, tapioca in Tamil Nadu. This fund would help in reaching untapped export markets in view of improved health consciousness.

Avadoot Shah

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