Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan along with secretary Devesh Chaturvedi and other senior officials on Saturday reviewed various schemes with agriculture ministers of various states and sought their suggestions on ongoing programmes and for the next Union Budget.

During the virtual closed door meeting, Chouhan expressed confidence that the agriculture and allied sectors’ growth rate will be between 3.5 per cent and 4 per cent in 2024-25 fiscal, and urged state governments to work at a “faster pace”.

The minister informed the States that the Centre has been implementing a six-point strategy to boost the farm sector and the strategy included raising production per hectare through research by ICAR and release of new seed varieties of crops, according to an official statement.

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The government is also focusing on reducing production costs, promoting micro irrigation, farm mechanisation, technology adoption, and new agricultural methods, he said.

Chouhan highlighted progress in key schemes, including PM-KISAN, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, DAP fertiliser subsidy, Kisan Credit Card, and Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PMAASA).

“There is continuous progress in the agriculture sector and we are all constantly making efforts for it… I have full faith that we will share suggestions together regarding the budget, improvement in schemes and move forward together in that direction,” he said.

He also welcomed the State Bank of India’s recent report showing decline in rural poverty to below 5 per cent for the first time in FY24 from 7.2 per cent in FY23.

“In the new year with new resolutions, we will take forward the work of agricultural development and farmer welfare at a fast pace,” he assured states.

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The minister further said: “We are working on reducing the cost of production to increase income rapidly.” He said that there is a provision of subsidy on fertilisers to reduce the cost of production and as such ₹1.95 lakh crore was spent last year. He cited the recent cabinet’s decision of hike in subsidy by ₹3800 crore for DAP to make the fertiliser continue to be sold at ₹1350 per 50 kg bag.

It was not immediately known what the states’ ministers had suggested for the Budget.