Parliament Question: Budgetary allocation for agriculture

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2422 ANSWERED ON 13/03/2026 BUDGETARY ALLOCATION FOR AGRICULTURE 2422. DR. K. LAXMAN Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state: (a) the salient features of the record ₹1,32,561 crore allocation for agriculture in Budget 2026-27; (b) the manner in which the enhanced ₹9,967 crore for Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) will strengthen research and develop climate-resilient crop varieties; and (c) the expected impact of these provisions on doubling farmers' incomes and ensuring food security? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY) (a): The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare has been allocated ₹1,40,528.78 crore in Budget Estimates 2026–27, which is an increase of 5.4% over the Revised Estimates 2025–26, reflecting sustained emphasis on agriculture and allied sectors. Out of this, ₹1,30,561.38 crore has been allocated to the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and ₹9,967.40 crore to the Department of Agricultural Research & Education. Salient features of budget 2026-27 are as under:  Substantial provision has been made for flagship schemes including Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS), Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (Crop Insurance Scheme), Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA), and other umbrella programmes like Krishionnati Yojana and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), ensuring continued support to farmers across the country. The Budget envisages launching Bharat VISTAAR, a multi-lingual AI tool to integrate AgriStack portals with ICAR practices to enable data-driven advisory and decision support for farmers, along with dedicated programmes for high-value and allied agriculture. Rs 150 crore has been allocated for this scheme in 2026-27.  Dedicated programmes have been proposed for enhancing production, processing, and export competitiveness to support high value agriculture.  Increased allocation towards RKVY, and continued support to infrastructure initiatives such as the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund and mechanisation components under umbrella schemes, aim to reduce post-harvest losses and improve efficiency. (b): The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and its network of institutes are already actively engaged in research on climate-resilient crop varieties. Institutions and various State Agricultural Universities are working on developing drought-tolerant, flood-resistant, and heat-stress-resilient varieties suited to diverse agro-climatic zones across the country. The allocation of ₹9,967 Crore for ICAR in Budget 2026-27 will continue to support and strengthen these ongoing research efforts. The funds will facilitate further development, field trials, and dissemination of improved crop varieties, ensuring that the work already underway is sustained and scaled up for the benefit of farmers nationwide. NARES (National Agricultural Research System) under the aegis of ICAR, through its crop based institutes, are regularly developing and notifying region specific, high yielding, climate resilient varieties through AICRP system. It signifies the impact of high yielding and climate resilient varieties of field crops developed by National Agricultural Research System under the leadership of Indian Council of Agricultural Research towards the food and nutritional security of the nation. (c): These provisions are expected to enhance farmers’ income and promote agricultural sustainability by providing income support, risk mitigation, access to institutional credit, and adoption of modern technologies. Promotion of high-value and diversified crops, improved infrastructure, and research-driven innovations will strengthen productivity and resilience, thereby contributing to doubling farmers’ incomes over time and ensuring national food security through stable production and efficient market linkages. *****