PM Modi Addresses Post-Budget Webinar on Agriculture and Rural Transformation

New Delhi, March 6, 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the third post-budget webinar focusing on “Agriculture and Rural Transformation”, emphasizing that the Union Budget 2026 aims to strengthen India’s rural economy and make agriculture globally competitive.

The webinar brought together stakeholders from government, industry, and farming communities, continuing the discussion from previous sessions on technology, innovation, and economic growth.

Strong Government Support for Farmers

Shri Modi highlighted the government’s sustained efforts to provide economic security for farmers through schemes like:

• PM Kisan Samman Nidhi – Over ₹4 lakh crore distributed to 10 crore farmers

• PM Fasal Bima Yojana – Nearly ₹2 lakh crore insurance claims settled

• Institutional credit coverage exceeding 75%

“These efforts have reduced risks for farmers and ensured basic economic security,” the Prime Minister said.

He also emphasized the Minimum Support Price (MSP) reforms, which provide farmers 1.5 times returns, and called for scaling high-value agriculture to make it globally competitive.

Boosting Export-Oriented Agriculture

Shri Modi encouraged focusing on high-value and export-oriented crops, highlighting region-specific initiatives for:

• Cocoa, cashew, sandalwood

• Agarwood in the North East

• Temperate nut crops in Himalayan states

“Scaling high-value agriculture will create rural employment through processing and value addition,” he said.

He also stressed fisheries as a high-value sector, noting India’s potential to produce an additional 20 lakh tonnes of fish and transform the blue economy into a platform for export growth and rural prosperity.

Technology and Digital Infrastructure

The Prime Minister underlined the importance of digital public infrastructure in agriculture, citing initiatives like:

• AgriStack for digital integration of farming systems

• e-NAM and digital marketplaces

• Kisan IDs and digital land surveys

“Technology delivers results when institutions adopt it, and entrepreneurs build innovations on it,” he said, urging participants to suggest ways to merge technology effectively with traditional farming practices.

Livestock and Animal Husbandry

Shri Modi highlighted India’s leadership in dairy and poultry, stating that the country is the largest milk producer and second in egg production. He called for:

• Quality breeding and disease prevention

• Scientific livestock management

• Utilization of the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund

He also noted that over 125 crore doses of vaccines have been administered to protect livestock from diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease.

Crop Diversification and Sustainable Farming

The Prime Minister encouraged crop diversification to reduce dependency on single crops, with missions promoting:

• Pulses and edible oils

• Natural farming practices

He stressed that state governments play a crucial role in implementing budgetary provisions at the district level for maximum impact.

Women’s Empowerment and Rural Prosperity

Shri Modi highlighted initiatives like the “Lakhpati Didi” campaign, aiming to create 3 crore more successful women entrepreneurs by 2029. He emphasized that suggestions from stakeholders could accelerate the program’s success.

Closing Remarks

Concluding his address, the Prime Minister urged entrepreneurs and farmers to invest in agri-fintech, supply chain innovations, and modern storage solutions. He said, “I am confident that the nectar emerging from your deliberations today will provide new energy to the rural economy.”

The webinar underscored the government’s commitment to empowering farmers, promoting technology-led growth, and achieving holistic rural transformation as envisioned in Union Budget 2026.