Focus is on helping farmers become competitive with liberal agri markets & state support for livestock, fisheries Rural India will get a heavy dose of investment to help farmers become competitive with liberal agricultural markets and state support for livestock, beekeeping and fisheries, along with a scheme to generate steady income from selling solar energy from panels erected on barren land. The budget allocated Rs 2.83 lakh crore for rural India – Rs 1.60 lakh crore for farming, irrigation and related activities, and Rs 1.23 lakh crore for rural development and Panchayati Raj. ““Distortions in farm and livestock markets need to be removed. Purchase of farm produce, logistics and agri-services need copious investments. Substantial support and hand-holding of farm-based activities such as livestock, apiary and fisheries need to be provided for. Farmers desire integrated solutions covering storage, financing, processing and marketing,” finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in her budget speech.