Union Budget 2020: “We are committed to double farmer income by 2022,” Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said. She said, “A total of 6.11 crore farmers are insured under Fasal Bima Yojna and said that hand-holding of farm-based activities needs to be done. This, she said, can be done in cooperation with states. She presented a 16-point action plan for this purpose.
Some of the pointers included expansion of PM KUSUM Scheme, which reduces dependence on diesel and kerosene and increases reliance on social energy. “Annadata can be Urjadata too,” FM said. She also added that total of 20 lakh farmers can set up standalone solar pumps.
Further, she said that government can help 15 lakh solarise grid-connected pump sets. Farmers can also use barren land for solar energy and have a livelihood out of it, says FM.
