Agriculture budget of Rs 1.32 lakh crore, a budget for the progress and development of farmers: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
New Delhi(The Uttam Hindu): Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has described the Union Budget 2026-27 as a historic and unprecedented budget that lays a strong foundation for a developed and self-reliant India under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He said that this is the 12th budget presented under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, and that Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman is the first woman Finance Minister to present the budget for the ninth consecutive time, which is a matter of pride for the country.
Shri Chouhan said, “This budget is an epic that will realize the dream of a developed India. It is a budget for the prosperity of society and the fulfillment of its aspirations – it is a dynamic budget for a developed India. Inspired by the foresight and vision of the Honorable Prime Minister, this budget is laying a strong foundation for a self-reliant, empowered, and prosperous India by 2047. The budget presented today by our illustrious Finance Minister, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, for a record ninth time, is not merely a collection of schemes; it is a manifesto of the hopes, aspirations, and dreams of 140 crore Indians. This budget is writing a new chapter in bringing about revolutionary changes in the lives of the four pillars of the nation – farmers, youth, women, and the poor.”
A Budget for Villages, the Poor, Farmers, Youth and Women
Speaking to the media in Delhi today, Union Minister Shivraj Singh said that this budget has been specifically prepared keeping in mind all these sections – villages, the poor, farmers, youth, and women. He said that poverty is continuously decreasing due to the schemes being implemented under the leadership of the Prime Minister, and this budget is extremely important from the perspective of making the poor self-reliant. Lakhpati Didi and ‘SHE-Mart’: A Big Step Towards Empowering Rural Women as Entrepreneurs
Speaking on women's empowerment, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that building on the success of the Lakhpati Didi scheme, the budget includes provisions for Self-Help Entrepreneur ‘SHE-Mart’. According to him, community-owned retail outlets will be established in every district to serve as a platform for selling products made by women. These outlets will provide a new market for products created by self-help groups and rural women. He said that the objective of this initiative is to enable women engaged in animal husbandry, agriculture-related activities, and other work to move beyond simply earning a livelihood and become entrepreneurs.
21% Increase in Rural Development Budget
Union Minister Chouhan stated that the budget for the Rural Development Department has been increased by 21 percent this year. He said that when combining the budgets of the Rural Development and Agriculture Departments, the combined budget of the Ministry of Rural Development and Agriculture now exceeds ₹4,35,779 crore, which reflects the government's commitment to villages and farmers.
He said that out of the total rural development budget, more than ₹1.51 lakh crore has been allocated for the 'Viksit Bharat Gram Yojana' alone, including the states' contributions. Regarding MGNREGA, he said that the overall MGNREGA budget last time was approximately ₹86,000 crore, while this time the central government's share alone is more than ₹95,692 crore. Adding the states' share, this amount will exceed ₹1,51,000 crore, which is historic and unprecedented. Double the Direct Assistance to Panchayats, a Big Step Towards Developed and Self-Reliant Villages
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that according to the latest decision of the 16th Finance Commission, over ₹55,900 crore will be directly transferred to the Panchayats. He compared this to the previous five years, when Panchayats received a total of approximately ₹2,36,000 crore directly, which has now increased to ₹4,35,000 crore – almost double.
Mr. Chouhan expressed confidence that the ₹1,51,000 crore allocated under 'Viksit Bharat @ 2047' and the ₹55,900 crore under the Finance Commission will together play an unprecedented role in building developed, self-reliant, employment-generating, and poverty-free villages.
Significant Increase in Agriculture Budget, Special Emphasis on Research and Affordable Fertilizers
Speaking on the agriculture sector, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the budget for the Department of Agriculture has been increased to ₹1,32,561 crore this year. He informed that ₹9,967 crore has been allocated for agricultural education and research, especially for ICAR, which will strengthen research and innovation.
Regarding fertilizer subsidies for farmers, he said that a subsidy of ₹1,70,944 crore has been provided to make fertilizers and manure available at affordable prices, thereby reducing production costs and providing relief to farmers.
National Fibre Scheme and Medicinal Plants to Directly Benefit Farmers
Mr. Chouhan said that the National Fibre Scheme focuses on fibers like silk, wool, and jute, which will directly benefit the farmers associated with these crops. He also said that the provisions related to certification and export of medicinal plants under the Ministry of AYUSH will help increase the income of farmers growing medicinal plants.
Emphasis on Diversification: Special Provisions for Coconut, Cocoa, Cashew, Sandalwood and Fruits and Vegetables
Shivraj Singh Chouhan also described the budget as significant from the perspective of agricultural diversification. He said that clear provisions have been made for traditional crops as well as high-value crops such as coconut, cocoa, cashew, and sandalwood. The budget includes provisions for the rejuvenation of old coconut plantations and the establishment of new ones. He also added that measures have been taken to increase the production of fruits and vegetables and to facilitate their easy distribution.
Separate provisions have been made to ensure that agricultural produce reaches consumers efficiently, so that farmers receive better prices and consumers have easy access to the products.
A milestone towards a developed India, poverty-free villages and prosperous farmers
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, poverty is continuously decreasing, and this budget adds a crucial link in making the poor self-reliant. Expressing his gratitude to the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister, he said that this budget makes ample and robust provisions for the welfare of villages, the poor, farmers, young farmers, and our sisters – especially all rural women, including the Lakhpati Didis (women who have become millionaires).
He expressed confidence that these provisions will not only contribute to building a developed India but will also enable the country to achieve decisive success in eradicating poverty, increasing farmers' income, and developing villages.