Budget 2026 Unveils Major Push for Livestock and Fisheries Sectors
In a significant move aimed at diversifying rural incomes and creating employment opportunities beyond traditional farming, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Budget 2026-27 in Parliament on Sunday. The budget includes a series of comprehensive initiatives targeting the livestock, fisheries, and high-value agriculture sectors, designed to enhance economic resilience in rural India.
Veterinary Professional Development Scheme
Highlighting that livestock contributes approximately 16 percent of farm income, particularly benefiting poor and marginal households, Sitharaman introduced a loan-linked capital subsidy scheme. This ambitious program aims to scale up the availability of veterinary professionals by training more than 20,000 individuals.
The scheme will provide support for:
- Establishment of veterinary and private colleges
- Development of veterinary hospitals and diagnostic laboratories
- Creation of breeding facilities in the private sector
This initiative is expected to significantly improve animal healthcare infrastructure across the country.
Fisheries Sector Enhancement
For the fisheries sector, the government has announced plans for integrated development of 500 reservoirs and Amrit Sarovars. This comprehensive approach will focus on strengthening the value chain in coastal areas through innovative market linkages.
The fisheries development program will specifically enable:
- Enhanced market access through startup collaborations
- Empowerment of women-led groups in the fisheries sector
- Support for Fish Farmers Producer Organisations
Animal Husbandry Entrepreneurship Support
Alongside the veterinary training initiative, the finance minister announced a credit-linked subsidy programme for animal husbandry entrepreneurship development. This program will facilitate:
- Modernization and scaling up of livestock enterprises
- Creation of integrated value chains focused on livestock, dairy, and poultry
- Enhanced market competitiveness for animal husbandry products
Specialized Agricultural Initiatives
The budget also includes several specialized programs for specific agricultural sectors:
Coconut Promotion Scheme: A dedicated initiative for coastal farmers aims to replace old and non-productive coconut trees with new varieties in major coconut-growing states. With approximately 30 million people, including nearly 10 million farmers, depending on coconuts for their livelihood, and India being the world's largest producer, this scheme holds significant economic importance.
Cashew and Cocoa Program: A focused initiative for Indian cashew and cocoa aims to achieve self-reliance in production and processing by 2030. The program seeks to enhance export competitiveness and transform these products into premium global brands through strategic development and value addition.
Sandalwood Cultivation Partnership: The government will collaborate with states to promote sandalwood cultivation and post-harvest processing. This effort aims to "restore the glory of the Indian sandalwood ecosystem", which holds deep connections to India's social and cultural heritage, while creating sustainable economic opportunities.
Hilly Region Development: A dedicated program for hilly regions will support the rejuvenation of old orchards and expansion of high-density cultivation of walnuts, almonds, and pine nuts. This initiative will focus on value addition through active youth engagement, creating employment opportunities in traditionally challenging agricultural environments.
These comprehensive measures in Budget 2026-27 represent a strategic approach to rural economic development, combining infrastructure investment with skill development and market linkage initiatives across multiple agricultural sectors.
