Expressing disappointment over the Union Budget 2026 presented on Sunday, Southern Districts Farmers’ Association termed it as “neglect of farming sector”.
In a statement, its general secretary, M. Arjunan, condemned the meagre 3% allocation or ₹1,62,671 crore out of the total budget outlay of ₹53.5 lakh crore allocated for agriculture and allied sectors.
“In a country where 50% of the population was dependent on agriculture that contributed around 15 to 18% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the meagre allocation of 3% is tantamount to neglect of the farming sector.
The budget has not spoken about implementation of M.S. Swaminathan Committee recommendations for providing minimum support price to the farm produce. Besides, it revealed dominance of corporate sector on seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and farm equipments and machines and negligible infrastructure for storage of foodgrains.
The budget has not provided any solution to the daily problems of the farmers like faster claim, quicker settlement, wider coverage and individual insurance coverage under crop insurance scheme that has been benefiting the corporate sector. Similarly, the budget has not spoken about the crop loss due to drought, flood, pest-attack and diseases and also damaged by wild animals and the need to provide immediate relief to the farmers, the statement said.
Mr. Arjunan said that the promise of doubling farmer’s income given by the Prime Minister had not been fulfilled.
The budget has also not allotted funds for river linking projects at the national and State levels. Besides, it has not provided any scheme to prevent the farmers from incurring losses due to uncertain rain and climate change.
Published – February 01, 2026 07:45 pm IST
