Federation of Seed Industry of India said that the strategy focused on achieving self-reliance in oilseed crops like mustard, groundnut, soybean, sesame and sunflower will give a new impetus to the agriculture sector. While CropLife India welcomed the budget, it said duty on agrochemicals should be reduced from the current 18% to 12%. There has been a positive response from the industry regarding the interim budget. National President of All India Edible Oil Traders Federation Shankar Thakkar has welcomed the Central Government's plan to promote major oilseeds like mustard, groundnut, sesame, soybean and sunflower to achieve 'self-reliance' in the oilseed sector. He said that proper implementation of this step will greatly help the country in reducing the oil import bill. 'Self-reliant Oil Seed Campaign' is a visionary strategy. India imports about 150 lakh tonnes of edible oil annually, worth more than Rs 1.35 lakh crore. In his budget speech on Thursday, the Finance Minister said that the government will formulate a strategy to achieve 'self-reliance' for oilseeds like mustard, groundnut, sesame, soybean and sunflower. National General Secretary of the federation Tarun Jain said that we also wanted the government to constitute an Oilseeds Production Board to further strengthen the oilseeds expansion program in which farmers, scientists, government officials and representatives of oilseeds and edible oil organizations should be included. Seed industry expressed happiness The Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) has expressed happiness over the announcements made for the agriculture sector and seed industry in the interim Budget 2024. Federation President Ajay Rana said that the seed industry is especially happy to see the emphasis given on oilseeds in this interim budget and the efforts to make the agriculture sector self-reliant. The strategy focused on achieving self-reliance in oilseed crops like mustard, groundnut, soybean, sesame and sunflower will give a new impetus to the agriculture sector. This is a timely and effective step, which will enhance our aspirations of becoming self-reliant in this important sector. What did Crop Life India say? CropLife India, an organization of companies selling crop protection products, said that a lot of emphasis has been laid on innovation in this budget, which will help farmers in new and green crop protection. Along with welcoming the budget, the organization also said that the tax on agrochemicals should be reduced from the current 18% to 12%. CropLife India Secretary General Durgesh Chandra said that in 2024-25, focus should be on reforms to increase the income of farmers and overall development of the sector. Indian farmers need new and green crop protection products.