Direct income support for farmers is a good step forward, says Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Purvi Mehta-Bhatt

The interim budget gave a much-needed relief to the distressed agriculture sector with a slew of relief measures being announced for the farmers.

The direct income support of Rs 6,000 for small-holder farmers in an interim or at least in the short term a good step forward, said Purvi Mehta-Bhatt, senior advisor and head of agriculture for South Asia at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in an interview with CNBC-TV18.

“The farmers are into agriculture because they are looking at agriculture as the only or a very important source of their livelihood. Therefore the thrust on income or the thrust on sectors that will bring in income which is the major shift from production and productivity in the Budget I think in an interim and long term definitely helps the farmer and they look forward to it,” she added.