Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today held pre Budget discussions with agriculturalists in New Delhi. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Secretary General of Consortium of Indian Farmers' Association, P. Chagan Reddy said that experts in agriculture urged the government to increase investment in this area. They also called for improving supply chain to increase storage capacity. He said this will also help in curbing the inflation. Mr. Mukherjee is scheduled to hold a series of interactions with sectoral experts to get their feedback and inputs for considering incorporation in the Budget for 2012-13.

The Finance Minister will also meet trade union leaders. According to the official sources, meeting with CEOs of banks and financial institutions is likely to be scheduled on the 19th of this month. Issues like bank recapitalisation, access to affordable financial services, especially credit, insurance and interest rates are likely to be discussed in the meeting.

Mr. Mukherjee will also meet eminent economists to discuss the country's financial health and hammer out solutions for the difficult economic situation at present. The current fiscal has been difficult for the economy, with growth slipping to 6.9 per cent in the second quarter, the lowest in nine quarters.

The pre-Budget consultations are likely to end with a meeting with the captains of industry on the 31 of this month. Our Correspondent reports that a wide range of issues like policy initiatives to fight sluggishness in growth, slump in industrial output and rising fiscal deficit targets are likely to come up for discussion. Impending tax reforms like Direct Taxes Code and Goods and Services Tax may also figure in the discussions.