Budget 2026 : What will farmers gain from this year's budget?

What exactly will the country's upcoming central budget be like, what relief will the common citizens, salaried and middle-class people get, is currently being discussed across the country. Along with this, everyone is focused on what exactly the rural areas, especially the farmers, will get from the budget. For the first time this year, the central budget will be presented on a Sunday, and the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the budget in Parliament on February 1.

Farmers have high expectations from this year's budget. According to experts, the 2026 budget could be important not just for temporary assistance but for the long-term strengthening of the agricultural sector. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in budgetary provisions for the agricultural sector, with the agricultural budget rising from approximately 21,933 crore rupees in 2013-14 to 1.27 lakh crore rupees now.

According to research analysts, climate change, rising input costs, and limited market access are major challenges in the agricultural sector today. The share of the agricultural sector in India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is about 18 to 20 percent. Therefore, it is likely that the government will focus on increasing agricultural productivity, stability, and farmers' income through targeted funding, reforms, and new schemes.

Possibility of increasing the agricultural budget

It is predicted that the agricultural budget in the 2026-27 budget may increase from the current 1.37 lakh crore rupees to about 1.5 lakh crore rupees. More funds may be allocated under the PM-Kisan scheme, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchan Yojana. This is expected to provide direct financial relief to farmers.

Armor 4.0 and Infrastructure

This budget is likely to see the launch of 'Armor 4.0', an advanced automated train protection system. Steps are also likely to be taken towards electrifying the remaining railway routes and increasing the railway's share in freight transport from 26 percent to 45 percent by 2030.

New Seed Bill

According to the Agriculture Minister's announcement, a new seed bill may be introduced in the budget session. This bill aims to curb the sale of counterfeit and substandard seeds, with provisions for fines up to 3 million rupees and imprisonment up to three years for offenders. This is expected to prevent losses for farmers and increase agricultural productivity.

Agriculture and Food Grain Export

Currently, India's agriculture and food grain export is approximately 50 to 55 billion dollars annually. The budget in 2026 is likely to focus on export facilities, fast approval processes, and promoting value-added agricultural products. Overall, this year's budget is expected to benefit farmers, the rural economy, and agriculture.