New Delhi, March 6 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to conduct a post-budget webinar focused on "Agriculture and Rural Transformation" this Friday through video conferencing, as per a statement from the PMO.

This webinar is part of a series of eight sessions addressing four key sectors: agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and rural livelihoods.

The discussion will emphasize the promotion of high-value agriculture by tapping into the potential of crops such as cashew, coconut, sandalwood, agarwood, almonds, walnuts, and pine nuts. The session will also explore the possibilities presented by Bharat Vistaar, an AI-enhanced Digital Public Infrastructure for Agriculture, according to the statement.

Moreover, the webinars will examine private sector investment and entrepreneurship within the animal husbandry value chain, the integrated development of reservoirs and Amrit Sarovars for fisheries, strengthening coastal fisheries value chains, and increasing market access for products crafted by rural women entrepreneurs through self-help groups called SHE-Marts.

The Union Budget 2026-27 has prioritized high-value agriculture, allied sectors, and technology-driven farming, as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed specific measures to enhance farmer incomes, generate rural employment, and modernize agricultural methods.

She announced a budget allocation of Rs 1,62,671 crore for the agriculture sector in the Union Budget, representing a 7% increase from the revised estimate of Rs 1,51,853 crore for 2025-26, highlighting the ongoing commitment to farmer welfare, food security, and rural livelihoods.

In recent years, the ministry’s budget has surged from approximately Rs 21,933.50 crore in 2013-14 to about Rs 1,51,853 crore in the 2025-26 Budget Estimates, showcasing escalating financial support for the sector.

The 2026-27 Budget aims to significantly boost high-value crops including coconut, sandalwood, cocoa, and cashew in coastal regions to increase farmers' incomes. Support will also be extended for agar trees in the North East and nuts such as almonds, walnuts, and pine nuts in hilly areas of the country.

This initiative is part of a comprehensive strategy outlined in the Budget to achieve the third Kartavya, which mandates focused efforts to elevate farmer incomes through productivity enhancements and entrepreneurship, according to the Finance Minister.

Sitharaman noted that around 30 million individuals, including nearly 10 million farmers, rely on coconuts for their livelihoods. To boost competitiveness, a Coconut Promotion Scheme has been launched to increase production and enhance productivity through various measures, such as replacing old and unproductive trees with new saplings and improved plant varieties in major coconut-growing states.

Additionally, the Union Budget 2026-27 has proposed a specific program aimed at Indian cashew and cocoa to achieve self-reliance in raw cashew and cocoa production and processing, improve export competitiveness, and establish Indian cashew and cocoa as premium global brands by 2030.