Agriculture Sector in Budget 2025-26

The Union Finance Minister has in the Budget speech for 2025-26, announced at least nine new missions focused solely on the Agriculture sector.

About The New Missions Launched

• Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana: 
  • The programme is motivated by the Aspirational Districts Programme, which will be implemented in partnership with states.
  • Coverage: The programme will cover 100 districts with low productivity, moderate crop intensity and below-average credit parameters 
  • Funding: The programme will be funded through the convergence of existing schemes and specialised measures benefitting approximately 1.7 crore farmers.

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Figure: Expenditure of Major Items in Budget  2025- 2026

• • Aim: To increase agricultural productivity, adopt crop diversification, improve post-harvest storage after harvest at the panchayat and block levels, improve irrigation facilities, and provide short-term and long-term credit
• Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses: 
  • Budget: A six-year mission with an allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for the financial year 2025-26
  • Focus: The scheme focuses on attaining self-sufficiency in toor (pigeon pea), urad (black gram), and masoor (red lentil).
  • Implementation Agencies: The central cooperative  agencies such as NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation) and National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation will procure these pulses over the next four years from farmers who register with these agencies and enter into agreements.
• Establishment of Makhana board in Bihar: 
  • A makhana (foxnut) board will be established in Bihar aimed at boosting production, processing, value addition, and marketing of makhana, while supporting farmers through Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)
  • The board has been allocated Rs 100 crore for FY 2025-26
  • Function: The board will provide training and support to makhana farmers, who will be organised into farmer producer organisations (FPO) and ensure farmers gain access to relevant government schemes.
• Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS):
  • The Loan limit under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) has been increased from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. 
    • The MISS Scheme: The farmers engaged in agriculture and other allied activities can acquire Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans up to Rs 3 lakh at a benchmark rate of 9 per cent (A 2 per cent interest subvention on the benchmark rate is provided)
    • An additional 3 per cent concession for prompt and timely repayment further reduces it to 4 per cent per year.
• Rural Prosperity and Resilience Programme: 
  • The initiative will be launched in partnership with states and aims to address underemployment in agriculture through investment in skilling and technology
    • Phase I: 100 developing agri-districts will be covered
  • Focus: It will focus on rural women, young farmers, rural youth, marginal and small farmers, and landless families.
  • Funding: Global and best domestic practices will be incorporated, and appropriate technical and financial assistance will be sought from multilateral development banks.
  • Aim: The goal is to reinvigorate the rural economy by generating ample opportunities in rural areas to stall out migration.
• Comprehensive Programme for Vegetables and Fruits:
  • This will be launched in partnership with states to promote production, efficient supplies, processing, and remunerative prices for farmers. 
  • The mission has been allocated Rs 500 crore for 2025-26. 
• Mission for Cotton Productivity:
  • The mission has a lifespan of five-years  with an allocation of Rs 500 crore for FY 2025-26
  • Focus: The scheme focuses on improving the productivity and sustainability of cotton farming while promoting extra-long staple cotton varieties.
    • The scheme is aligned with the integrated 5F vision for the textile sector for rejuvenating India’s traditional textile sector.
• National Mission on High-Yielding Seeds: 
  • This mission will target the commercial availability, development, and propagation of over 100 high-yielding, pest-resistant, and climate-resilient seed varieties released since July 2024.
  • It has been allocated Rs 100 crore for FY 2025-26. 
• Fisheries: 
  • The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) received a substantial budgetary increase of 64 percent for 2025-26 
  • Under the PMMSY, The government plans to introduce an enabling framework for the sustainable harnessing of fisheries from India’s Exclusive Economic Zone and High Seas, with a special focus on the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.
• Urea plant in Assam: A plant with annual capacity of 1.27 million tonnes will be set up at Namrup, Assam to further augment the supply of urea and achieve self sufficiency.
• Gene Bank
  • To safeguard genetic resources for future food and nutritional security, the government will establish a second Gene Bank, which will house 10 lakh germplasm lines.

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