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Informist, Friday, Mar. 6, 2026

 

--PM Modi:Need to boost investment in agri fintech, strengthen supply chains

--PM Modi: State govts should promote schemes to utilise cow dung

--PM Modi: Fisheries can boost our exports                                     

--PM Modi: Focusing on crop diversification, oilseed, pulses cultivation

--PM Modi: Will have to improve breed quality of milch cattle    

--PM Modi: Will have to shift to chemical-free, natural farming  

--PM Modi: Should discuss ways to make farm sector export oriented

--PM Modi: Agriculture is strategic pillar of long-term growth journey

 

NEW DELHI – Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said the Union Budget for 2026-27 (Apr-Mar) focuses on boosting farm productivity and promoting export-oriented agriculture, as India's farm sector must adapt to changing global demand and evolving market opportunities. He was speaking at a post-Budget webinar on agriculture and rural transformation. 

 

"When export-oriented production increases through processing and value addition, it will generate employment in rural areas and strengthen India's presence in global markets," Modi said. The government had incorporated many stakeholders' suggestions in the Budget, and continued engagement is now required to ensure tangible results on the ground, he added.  

 

The FY27 Budget focuses on promoting the cultivation of region-specific high-value crops such as coconut, sandalwood, cocoa, and cashews in coastal areas, agarwood in the northeast, as well as almonds, walnuts, and pine nuts in Himalayan states.

                                                       

Modi said fisheries could be tapped further to diversify rural income. India is already the second-largest fish producer, and output from inland water bodies can be increased to 2 million tonnes from around 450,000 tonnes by improving feed infrastructure and supply chains. 

 

Similarly, the animal husbandry sector could benefit by adopting better breeding practices, disease prevention, and scientific livestock management. Modi urged state governments to promote the Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan) scheme, which uses cow dung to produce biogas and organic fertiliser.

 

To encourage private investment, the government has also started the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund, he added. Farmers engaged in animal husbandry are now getting the benefit of the Kisan credit card, Modi said, adding that over 100 million farmers in general have received more than INR 4 trillion under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. 

 

The government is also encouraging natural farming and crop diversification through missions focused on edible oils and pulses. "We have understood from our past experiences that relying on only one crop is dangerous for farmers," Modi said. 

 

He also called for integrating technology into the agriculture sector and noted the creation of kisan identification cards and digital land surveys as transformative steps. On the Lakhpati Didi programme for women's self-help groups, Modi said the government aims to have 60 million members by 2029.  End

 

Reported by Afra Abubacker and Asim Khan

Edited by Avishek Dutta

 

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