New Delhi, January 31: As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman prepares to present her ninth consecutive budget on Sunday, February 1, farmers across India are eagerly anticipating a combination of relief measures and assurances. These include subsidies, a guaranteed profitable Minimum Support Price (MSP), enhanced credit access, investments in modern technology and infrastructure, and climate-resilient support.
Sitharaman has consistently emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision focuses on four key groups—‘Garib’ (poor), ‘Mahilayen’ (women), ‘Yuva’ (youth), and ‘Annadata’ (farmers).
India’s protection of its farmers is built upon a mix of budgetary support, targeted schemes, and institutional reforms. Over the past decade, the agriculture budget has seen steady increases, benefiting farmers through direct income transfers, crop insurance, access to credit, and subsidized inputs.
In particular, the budget allocation to the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (DA&FW) has grown from Rs. 21,933 crores in 2013–14 to Rs. 1.27 lakh crore in the 2025–26 Budget Estimates. Additionally, agricultural expenditures are funneled through various ministries—covering irrigation, renewable energy, fertilizers, rural employment, and research—demonstrating a whole-of-government approach.
Since 2018, the allocation has more than doubled, underscoring the government’s emphasis on strengthening farm incomes and resilience. However, despite this growing fiscal commitment, agriculture’s share in the overall public expenditure framework has been gradually declining.
Farm leaders continue to voice their concerns. "We will continue pushing for a fair MSP," said P. Krishnaprasad, a farmer leader associated with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM). “Fertilizer subsidies are being reduced, irrigation needs improvement, and farmers aren’t compensated for crop losses due to natural disasters like floods and droughts.”
Krishnaprasad also highlighted the shortcomings of the PM Fasal Bima Yojana, which was launched to provide affordable insurance against crop loss due to various calamities. He pointed to instances where the scheme failed to deliver as promised.
A recent incident involving onion prices further fueled his demand for a guaranteed price. Farmers were forced to sell onions for as low as Rs. 0.50 to Rs. 2 per kilogram, while consumers in Delhi paid Rs. 35-50 per kilo. “The government should ensure farmers earn a profit, rather than middlemen benefitting,” he stressed. Notably, onions are not covered under the MSP scheme, which covers only 22 crops.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) is calling for easier market access for farmers, as opposed to a guaranteed base price.
“The average input cost for farmers in states like Odisha or West Bengal is different from that in Punjab,” explained BKS General Secretary Mohini Mohan Mishra. “A uniform MSP may benefit some but may not even cover costs in other regions. What farmers need is easier access to markets and more options to sell their produce.”
The BKS, affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), is also advocating for a review of GST on irrigation equipment like pumps and pipes, support for organic farming, and controlled imports of pulses and oilseeds to ensure India’s self-sufficiency in these products.
The organization is also pushing for measures to encourage small and landless farmers to diversify into activities like animal husbandry, beekeeping, or mushroom cultivation to sustain their livelihoods. Additionally, the BKS wants a greater focus on agricultural education and research within India, rather than relying on global collaborations.
Despite the government’s support through MSP, affordable insurance, subsidies, and direct income transfers, small and marginal farmers—who make up over 80% of India’s farming population—remain vulnerable to unique challenges.
The way forward may require more comprehensive policy changes rather than short-term financial assistance. Farmers across India are now awaiting the government’s budgetary promises, hopeful that they will receive the support and assurance they need.
