Union Budget 2025-26 recognizes agriculture's pivotal role in boosting India’s economy, and has introduced a series of initiatives to bolster productivity. Here are the topline reforms:
- Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana
One of the key highlights of Budget 2025-26 was the introduction of the “Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Yojana” which now aggregates all existing schemes under an umbrella endeavour. The new effort aims to cover 100 districts with low productivity, moderate crop intensity, and below average credit parameters. The scheme hopes to increase productivity, diversify crop production, adopt sustainable practices, improve post-harvest storage, and modernise irrigation facilities. It will primarily focus on rural women, youth, marginal farmers, and landless families and aims to help approximately 1.7 crore farmers.
- Creating a Digital Infrastructure
In partnership with state governments, the budget has announced the introduction of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for agriculture. A digital crop survey for the Kharif season will be conducted in 400 districts, integrating about 6 crore farmers and their lands into comprehensive digital registries. JanSamarth-based Kisan Credit Cards will also be issued in 5 states.
- Self-sufficiency in Pulses and Oilseeds
To curb dependence on imports and achieve self-reliance, key clauses of the new budget focus on boosting production, storage, and marketing of pulses and oil seeds as well as enhancing the overall research ecosystem. Additionally, a strategy is being formulated to achieve atmanirbharta in oilseeds such as mustard, groundnut, sesame, soybean, and sunflower.
The budget proposes creating a “Makhana Board” in Bihar with an allocated sum of INR 100 crores. The primary objective of the board is to support farmers with better seed varieties and modernised agricultural practices to increase yields. The board will also work to reduce dependence on middlemen and increase farmers’ direct profitability by facilitating access to government schemes and educating them on new techniques and resources. Finally, the board aims to brand makhana as a premium product in both domestic and global markets through marketing techniques and certifications.
- Vegetable Production Clusters
To ensure continual supply to thriving consumption centres, large scale clusters for vegetable production will be developed near these hubs. This initiative will also promote Farmer-Producer Organisations, cooperatives, and start-ups for vegetable supply chains, including collection, storage, and marketing.
- Targeting Cotton Productivity
The budget also announced a five-year mission for cotton productivity to promote extra-long staple cotton varieties through extensive research, development, and advanced technologies.
Union Budget 2025-26's comprehensive focus on agriculture reflects the government's dedication to strengthen India’s backbone and take the country towards greener pastures.
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