Horticulture Sector Left in Cold by Budget 2023

The government’s flagship program of price stabilization of horticulture crops, which was initiated in 2014–15, has come to an end with the Budget of 2023. It has not been allocated any funds in the Budget. In the previous year’s budget, the government allocated Rs 1,500 crore, but it was never used.

The Department of Consumer Affairs’ budget has decreased significantly by 85 percent due to the non-allocation of the Price Stabilization Fund (PSF). While the estimated budget for the previous year was Rs 1,724 crore, the budget allocation is only Rs 250 crore.

In 2014, the government reactivated the PSF to assist consumers and farmers with much fanfare. The PSF is designed to absorb certain commodities’ volatility, such as potatoes, onions, and tomatoes.

According to experts, the failure to allocate the fund is yet another setback for distressed farmers. “The Spending plan is now quiet on the MSP. According to agriculture policy specialist Devinder Sharma, “the government is abandoning farmers at the mercy of market forces to face price volatility.”

According to Gurnam Singh Charuni of the Bhartiya Kisan Union, this is yet another trick being played on farmers. According to a representative of the Department of Consumer Affairs, the government may allocate funds in an emergency.