In her Budget 2026 speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman outlined measures to increase farm productivity, diversify crops, and improve rural incomes, with a focus on small and marginal farmers.
High-Value Crops and Diversification
The government will promote crops like coconut, cashew, cocoa, sandalwood, and nuts including walnuts and almonds. Coconut-growing states such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu will get a dedicated Coconut Promotion Scheme benefiting 30 million people, including 10 million farmers. Cashew and cocoa programmes aim to make India self-reliant in raw materials and develop premium global brands by 2030. Sandalwood cultivation will receive scientific farming and post-harvest support.
Fisheries and Animal Husbandry
Development of 500 reservoirs and water bodies will strengthen fisheries, support startups, women-led groups, and fish farmer organisations. For animal husbandry, a credit-linked subsidy programme will modernise dairy, poultry, and livestock sectors, creating employment in rural areas.
Technology-Driven Farming
The BHARAT VISTAAR platform, a multilingual AI tool, will help farmers make data-driven decisions, improve productivity, and reduce risks.
The Budget emphasizes diversification, value addition, and technology in agriculture to make farming more profitable, resilient, and future-ready.
