"The allocation for agriculture and rural sector would go up in the next budget," agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said at the 5th Editors' Conference on Social Sector Issues.
The UPA government would also give special attention to related sectors like animal husbandary, dairy and fisheries, he said, adding that there was a need to increase the purchasing power of the farmers.
The minister said he expected credit flow to the farm sector to double in the next three years, which would enable farmers to take loans for as low as eight per cent interest.
The minister said there was a need to increase the productivity from the farming and the dairy sector. "We would focus on increasing the per hectare yield as well as the dairy output."
Pawar spoke about the need for an enhanced focus on the fishery segment and advocated the need for setting up a board on the lines of the National Dairy Development Board.
Asked if the deficit in sugarcane production this season could have a negative impact, he said any shortage would be made up by the old stocks. On supporting the sugar mills affected by natural calamities like flood and drought, Pawar said he had received some proposals from the industry for assistance, without elaborating further.
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