‘This is the first Budget of Amrit Kaal’. With these words, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman started the presentation of this year’s budget. India’s growth at near 7 percent in the current fiscal year is the highest among major economies. “
“The Indian economy is on the right track, and heading towards a bright future,” Sitharaman said in her budget speech.
FM unveils AI growth
The Finance Minister in her speech referred to the growth of AI and said, “Three centres of excellence in Artificial Intelligence will be set up in top educational institutions.”
Followed by her focus on the leading industry players that are envisioned to partner in conducting interdisciplinary research, and develop cutting-edge applications and salable problem solutions in the areas of health, agriculture, and sustainable cities.
“Agriculture Accelerator Fund to be set up for the encouragement of agri startups by young entrepreneurs in rural areas that will bring innovative and affordable solutions for farmers’ challenges, and also enhance profitability by bringing modern tech, ” said Sitharaman in the budget speech.
How do experts see it?
Based on the announcements made by the FM regarding ‘Digital public infrastructure for agriculture,’ Dipanjan Dean Dutta , Co-founder, Digicides (a business-to-farmer SAAS based communication start-up) said, “This is an amazingly progressive step to infuse technology adoption on-ground. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of companies sitting with some amazing products struggling with adoption.”
“It is also one of the most important steps towards achieving the goal of increasing the farmer’s income by 2025,” he stated.
“As we all understand, the farmer’s land-size is tangible. One of the primary ways that the farmer’s income can double itself is when production at the same farm increases radically and tech adoption is the only way to achieve that. This comes in the form of modern hybrid seeds, better tools, better grading systems, a modern way to disburse loans and other tech advancements,” Dutta added.
