New Delhi: Finance Minister P Chidambaram will begin pre-budget consultations from Friday when he meets agriculturalists and trade unions, who remain one of the most vocal critics of economic reforms.

The meeting with farm sector representatives is quite important as agriculture remained a grey area amid the booming economy.

Farm sector grew by just 2.6 per cent in the last eigth quarters. According to official figures, negatives growth was shown in Rabi foodgrains, particularly wheat and pulses.

Agri-representatives are expected to demand more investment in the farm sector and greater focus irrigation to increase productivity.

Trade unions are likely to seek higher interest rates on special deposit schemes which would enable Employees Provident Fund Organisation to disburse greater interest rates to its more than four crore subscribers.