GUWAHATI: Assam Finance Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah has called for region-specific agricultural financing, greater access to institutional credit and improved processing and export infrastructure.
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Speaking at the “Financing Agriculture Sector Transformation” session on the second day of the two-day “Financing India’s Journey towards Viksit Bharat” conference in New Delhi on September 19, Baruah said financing frameworks should take into account the production patterns and local requirements of different states.
“Uniform financial and agricultural frameworks may not always address the specific requirements of every State. Regional production patterns and local realities must be considered while designing support mechanisms,” he said.
Baruah said greater attention was needed across the agricultural value chain, from production and primary processing to storage, marketing and exports, to improve returns for farmers.
He also highlighted regional disparities in institutional agricultural credit in the Northeast and the difficulties faced by tenant and leasehold farmers, cultivators of government land, Forest Rights Act beneficiaries and small tea growers in accessing institutional credit because of land-title-related constraints.
The minister said the distribution of Farmer IDs has commenced in Assam under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. He said the IDs can facilitate targeted institutional support for tenant farmers, lease farmers, forest dwellers and other cultivators.
Baruah called for decentralised processing and value-addition infrastructure close to production centres. He said local processing facilities were particularly important for perishable commodities that may deteriorate within two to five days of harvest.
He said such infrastructure could reduce post-harvest losses and allow farmers and rural communities to retain a greater share of the value generated from their produce.
On Assam’s agarwood sector, Baruah called for streamlined regulatory clearances, quality testing facilities, local processing infrastructure and stronger export channels.
He also called for dedicated export linkages and infrastructure for premium-grade ginger and turmeric from Assam’s hill regions.
Baruah sought direct international air cargo export facilities to support high-value agricultural exports from the state.
He also called for market support for Kaji Nemu, Bhoot Jolokia and specialty indigenous rice varieties.
Highlighting Assam and the Northeast’s vulnerability to floods, localised droughts and pest outbreaks, Baruah called for mechanisms for rapid response and real-time intervention to provide timely assistance to farmers during agricultural distress.
He said Assam has initiated measures including the rollout of Farmer IDs and targeted initiatives relating to agarwood and indigenous chillies. He also said continued Centre-State cooperation would be important to strengthen agricultural financing and value chains.
The session was attended by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, chief ministers and finance ministers from several states and Union Territories.
