Will the Union Budget's focus on farmer issues and boosting agriculture attract private sector investment?

Post-harvest losses Ministry officials have publicly highlighted how India loses approximately Rs 100,000 crore every year through food losses; the need for adequate and sustainable cold chain infrastructure is paramount to reduce post-harvest losses of foods, it can also significantly reduce the country’s carbon emissions. Through PPP World Economic Forum reports have lauded India's plan to deliver agricultural technology services to farmers through public private partnerships to boost the country's farming sector and address the challenges of sustainability, efficiency and inclusivity. The Indian government’s proposal to deliver hi-tech services to farmers through public private partnerships is likely to offer critical support for the agricultural sector at a time when it is greatly needed," he said. “Private seed sector companies adopt innovation and uniqueness to capture or protect market shares and makes substantial investment in R&D at their end,” acknowledges Dr Ashok Gulati in the ICRIER bulletin, adding, “Initially, the Indian seed sector was dominated by the public institutions that include National and State Seed Corporations, Public Sector Undertakings, National Agricultural Research Education and Extension System including ICAR-Research Institutes and Central and State Agricultural Universities. In 2020, the Indian seed industry was valued at USD 3.6 billion and has emerged as the fifth largest seed market across the globe.” Will the thrust of the new Budget, efforts of the new Agriculture Minister, innumerable missions of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, burst of energies in the private sector herald more productive and profitable times in the vast Indian countryside?