Sangrur/Chandigarh, March 9 -- The budget has been crafted keeping the election strategy in mind, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan said on Sunday.

"Why doesn't the government announce MSP for basmati? It will save water. Talking about replacing paddy with maize is of no benefit as it doesn't save water," he said. Notably, the Rs.15,377-crore budgetary allocation for agriculture and allied sectors includes Rs.40 crore to promote direct seeded rice (DSR) with subsidy to conserve groundwater, and a pilot project encouraging a shift from paddy to maize in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Bathinda, Sangrur, Jalandhar and Kapurthala.

The increased allocation for agriculture is in fact meagre compared to inflation, he...