India, Jan. 13 -- A separate policy measure should be adopted in the upcoming Union Budget 2020 for Agriculture and Agritech as the objectives of both are different. While Agriculture policy should focus on farmer welfare, structural reforms and doubling farmer income, Agritech policy should focus on increasing productivity, efficiency and output across the agriculture business value chain.

In the last year's budget, Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister, Government of India emphasised on "Gaon-Garib-Kisan" (Village-Poor-Farmer) as the cornerstone of policymaking. With Agritech missing from the key focus area, our planning will always be reactionary.

In 2014, India spent only 0.3% of agricultural GDP in agricultural R&D (against 0.62% by...