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Budget 2026: In the Union Budget 2026-27, special emphasis has been laid on high-value agriculture, allied sectors and technology-based farming. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced to promote coconut and sandalwood farming in the Budget 2026-27. The Finance Minister has proposed targeted measures to increase farmers’ income, create rural employment and modernize farming practices. The government will provide assistance to farmers in irrigation, pest control, intercropping and modern technology. An estimated profit of Rs 1.5-3.5 crore per acre is possible in sandalwood farming in 15-20 years. This step will strengthen farmers’ income and agricultural development.

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rural livelihood
In the Union Budget presented on Sunday, February 1, the Finance Minister announced an allocation of ₹1,62,671 crore for the agriculture sector, 7% more than the revised estimate of ₹1,51,853 crore for 2025-26. This allocation reflects the continued focus on farmer welfare, food security and rural livelihoods.

Coconut Incentive Scheme
India, the world’s largest producer of coconuts, will launch a new coconut incentive scheme aimed at increasing productivity by replacing unproductive trees with improved varieties in major coconut producing states. About 3 crore people, including about 1 crore farmers, depend on coconut cultivation for their livelihood.

Cashews and Cocoa
The budget also proposes a dedicated program for Indian cashew and cocoa, which aims to make the country self-reliant in raw material production and processing, and transform Indian cashew and cocoa into premium global brands by 2030.

help in coconut farming
India is the largest producer of coconut in the world, with more than 90% of production occurring in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The budget said that farmers of coastal states will be given technical assistance like irrigation, intercropping and pest control. According to experts, sandy loam soil with good drainage and 5-7 years old trees are best suited for coconut.
Although Kerala has the highest area under coconut, Tamil Nadu is ahead in terms of productivity. Farming will also be increased in non-traditional areas like Assam, Tripura and coastal Maharashtra. Coconut Development Board will play an important role in this expansion.

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Investment and benefits in sandalwood farming
Sitharaman said that sandalwood cultivation will also be encouraged in the budget. It is considered a long-term but highly profitable investment. The main production areas are Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, although it is spreading to other states as well.
Profit: Estimated net profit of Rs 1.5-3.5 crore per acre in 15-20 years
Rules: Registration of trees in the state forest department is mandatory; Harvesting only under the supervision of the department
Market: Sale usually through auction organized by the government

‘Bharat Vistaar’ AI Platform
Announcing digital initiatives for the agriculture sector in Budget 2026, it announced the launch of a multi-lingual AI platform called ‘Bharat Vistar’. Its objective is to provide accurate and timely information to agriculture to the farmers, so that better decisions can be taken in farming.