This post was originally published on The Economic Times
The Union Budget 2026-27 offers only a muted push to agriculture, with focus largely confined to high-value crops and AI-driven thrust. This year, in contrast to last year, there were no major new farm initiatives. The fall in research spending, critical for productivity and climate resilience, reinforces concerns that agriculture and rural sectors will have to wait longer for sharper policy focus, say industry stakeholders.
The total allocation for agriculture and allied sectors in this Budget increased marginally to Rs 1.62 lakh crore, up from Rs 1.59 lakh crore in the previous Budget. However, the revised expenditure estimates of Rs 1.52 lakh crore points to underutilisation and recalibration rather than a policy shift. Notably, the estimate of programme expenditure was Rs 1.71 lakh crore in the BE (Budget Estimates) for 2025-26. Of this amount, Rs 1.59 lakh crore was estimated to be financed from the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI), while the remaining Rs 0.12 lakh crore was from the reserve fund in the public account.
The funding for the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) has been reduced to Rs 9,967 crore, down from Rs
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