Narendra Modi will address a post-budget webinar on “Agriculture and Rural Transformation” via video conferencing on Friday, officials from the Prime Minister’s Office said.
The webinar aims to discuss key reforms, policy initiatives and growth opportunities in the agriculture and rural economy following the announcements made in the Union Budget 2026–27.
Eight Sessions Covering Four Key Sectors
Under the theme of agriculture and rural transformation, the government is organising eight webinar sessions covering four major sectors, including:
- Agriculture
- Animal husbandry and dairy
- Fisheries
- Rural livelihoods
The sessions will bring together policymakers, experts and stakeholders to discuss strategies to enhance growth, investment and innovation in these sectors.
Focus on High-Value Crops
A key highlight of the discussions will be the promotion of high-value crops such as cashew, coconut, sandalwood, agarwood, almonds, walnuts and pine nuts.
The webinar will also explore opportunities related to AI-driven digital public infrastructure for agriculture and initiatives under Bharat Extension Programme aimed at strengthening agricultural advisory and services for farmers.
Investment Opportunities in Livestock and Fisheries
The sessions will also focus on encouraging private sector investment and entrepreneurship in the livestock value chain, as well as improving fisheries infrastructure.
Key topics include the integrated development of reservoirs and Amrit Sarovar Mission for fisheries, strengthening coastal fisheries value chains, and expanding market access for products made by rural women entrepreneurs through She-Mart Initiative.
Agriculture Gets Special Focus in Union Budget 2026–27
In the Union Budget 2026–27, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced several initiatives aimed at boosting high-value agriculture, allied sectors and technology-driven farming.
The government has proposed targeted interventions to increase farmers’ incomes, generate rural employment and modernise agricultural practices.
Increased Budget Allocation for Agriculture
The budget allocation for the agriculture sector has been increased to ₹1,62,671 crore, which is nearly 7% higher than the revised estimate of ₹1,51,853 crore for 2025–26.
Government spending in the sector has risen significantly over the years, increasing from around ₹21,933 crore in 2013–14 to more than ₹1.51 lakh crore in recent budgets.
Push for Coconut and Other High-Value Crops
The government plans to promote high-value crops such as coconut, sandalwood, cocoa and cashew in coastal regions, while encouraging agarwood cultivation in the Northeast and almonds, walnuts and pine nuts in hilly areas.
Finance Minister Sitharaman also announced a Coconut Promotion Scheme to improve productivity. Around 3 crore people depend on coconut-based livelihoods, including nearly 1 crore farmers.
The scheme will focus on replacing old and low-yielding coconut trees with new and improved varieties, helping increase productivity and competitiveness in the sector.
