Whalesbook
Pre-Budget Expectations Focus on Growth and Resilience
Agro-industry leaders are pressing the central government to leverage Budget 2026-27 as a catalyst for significant agricultural sector growth. Their collective plea centers on fostering innovation, championing climate-resilient farming techniques, and bolstering supply chain efficiencies alongside rural infrastructure development. These stakeholders envision a transformed Indian agriculture, moving beyond a welfare focus to become a strategic, globally competitive growth engine and a cornerstone of rural prosperity.
Calls for Farmer Income and Infrastructure Support
Companies like Bayer India emphasize the need for enhanced income and credit support for farmers, coupled with predictable trade policies. Simon Wiebusch, Country Divisional Head of Bayer's Crop Science Division, highlighted that sustained investment in agri-logistics, value addition, and post-harvest infrastructure is crucial for achieving scalable impact. He also stressed the importance of accelerating innovation in seeds, crop protection, and digital, climate-smart farming to drive productivity and resilience, aligning with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
Yara South Asia's MD, Sanjiv Kanwar, echoed this sentiment, urging the government to view agriculture as a strategic growth engine. Kanwar pointed out that strengthening farmer income security amidst climate uncertainty requires predictable markets, higher productivity, affordable credit, and effective crop insurance. He also advocated for a simplified, nationally harmonized regulatory framework for agricultural inputs to speed up innovation and ensure timely access to science-based solutions.
Diversifying Exports and Reducing Import Dependence
Industry players are also spotlighting specific areas for improvement. Ranjith Mukundan, CEO of Stellapps Technologies, noted India's low share in global dairy exports despite being the largest milk producer. He proposed strengthening the dairy value chain through greater agri-tech adoption, digital procurement, and robust cold-chain infrastructure to improve milk quality and enable value-added product exports. This would help India transition from exporting liquid milk to export-ready formats meeting global safety and nutrition standards.
Sparsh Sachar, Director and Business Head at Nutrica, highlighted the persistent vulnerability of dependence on imported edible oils. He called for a sharper focus on oilseed productivity and procurement, bolstered agri-credit, and resilient farm infrastructure. Sachar also urged for a predictable import-duty framework that protects farmers without negatively impacting consumers. He further suggested incentives for food processing and value-added categories to build healthier food choices at scale and improve farmer realisations.