Experts on Monday called for higher funds for agricultural research work, integrated farm value chains. They also stressed the need to improve agricultural financing amidst rising concern about the climate change challenges.
During a pre-budget consultations with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, seventeen agricultural economists, value chains experts, agri-based industries and farmers groups underlined that further boost farm sector growth from current levels is imperative.
The meeting also discussed measures to improve rural incomes, enhance productivity of crops, strengthen agri-infrastructure, and ensure better price realisation for farmers.
Issues including the need for promotion of climate resilience agriculture, credit flow to agri-businesses, and the use of technology in farm value chains were also discussed, sources said.
Ajay Vir Jakhar, Chairman, Bharat Krishak Samaj in the meeting with the finance minister stated that urea prices should be hiked by 25% to discourage overuse of soil nutrients while savings from the subsidy should be directly given to farmers through various means.
Jakhar called for doubling the expenditure on agricultural research and development which has reduced annually in real times over the last two decades. He also suggested reconceptualizing Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and consider substituting with a crop compensation scheme.
In a first-of-its-kind initiative to strengthen agricultural value chains through the public-private partnership model, the ministry of agriculture has approved a proposal by Ninjacart, an agri-supply chain platform, to develop a maize cluster in Uttar Pradesh.
Under the Public-Private Partnership for Agriculture Value Chain Development (PPPAVCD) initiative, the government aims to support development of value-chains on pulses, oilseeds, maize, millets and horticulture produce while paddy and wheat have been excluded from the ambit of the initiative.
The forthcoming union budget is expected to give thrust to development of value-chain infrastructure which would reduce post harvest losses and boost farmers’ remuneration.
India’s agriculture sector recorded a growth rate of 3.7% during the first quarter of 2025-26, the highest globally, agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has stated earlier.
The pre-budget meeting with agricultural experts was also attended by V Anantha Nageswaran, chief economic advisor, besides other economists and senior officers from the Department of Economic Affairs, Devesh Choudhary,secretary, ministry of agriculture and ML Jat, director general, Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
Other experts who provided inputs for the finance minister’s union budget (2026-27) preparation include Suresh Kumar Chaudhari, director general, Fertilizer Association of India, Prabhakar Rao, President, National Seed Association of India, Pawan Kumar G, President, Seafood Exporters Association of India, Uday Deolankar, former deputy commissioner, agriculture department, Maharashtra.
