New Delhi, February 1 Amid the ongoing farmers’ agitation against the three farm laws, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday announced “nine measures” for agriculture and allied sector (the “sole bright spot with growth of 3.4 per cent during 2020-21”, according to the Economic Survey) in the Union Budget, including extending Agriculture Infrastructure Fund to APMCs and 10 per cent hike in agriculture credit target. Sitharaman said: “To provide adequate credit to our farmers, I have enhanced the agricultural credit target to Rs 16.5 lakh crore in FY-22. We will focus on ensuring increased credit flows to animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries”. The Budget Estimate (BE)-2021-22 for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare is Rs 131531.19 crore, including Rs 123017.57 crore for its various schemes and Rs 8513.62 crore for agricultural research and education. While BE 2021-22 of Rs 123017.57 crore for schemes is higher that Revised Estimate (RE) or actual spending (Rs 116757.92 crore) in 2020-21, it is much lower than BE of Rs 134399.77 crore, last year. Though for research and education the FM allocated more than the 2020-21 BE, which was Rs 8362.58 crore.