Chandigarh:
In a response to the Punjab budget for FY 2026-27 tabled in the Vidhan Sabha today, Punjab’s Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, lauded the state government’s commitment to the agrarian economy, describing the budget as a significant instrument of transformation for the farming community. This budget ensures that the backbone of the nation’s food security is not left to fend for itself.
S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian highlighted the state’s crucial role in national food security, stating the government’s Rs 15,377 crore allocation for agriculture and allied sectors in the 2026-27 budget underscores its commitment to sustaining this contribution. It is a targeted intervention to strengthen resilience, drive crop diversification, ensure sustainability and guarantee farmer welfare, he added.
Elaborating the government’s proactive approach to water conservation, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian highlighted the success of Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) adoption. “The state disbursed ₹35 crore in FY 2025-26 to incentivise water-saving techniques, with ₹40 crore allocated for next year,” he said, while urging farmers to adopt DSR to address labour shortages and groundwater depletion.
The Agriculture Minister also expressed satisfaction over the pilot project encouraging a shift from paddy to kharif maize in six districts—Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Bathinda, Sangrur, Jalandhar and Kapurthala. With an incentive of ₹17,500 per hectare and a dedicated allocation of ₹15 crore for 2026-27, he noted that the government is building a robust model for alternative cropping patterns.
“By extending a 33 percent subsidy on PAU-recommended hybrid seeds, we have not only supported our farmers financially but have also reversed the declining trend in cotton cultivation,” he asserted .
Addressing the perennial challenge of stubble burning, the Agriculture Minister highlighted the government’s aggressive push for mechanisation. He noted that ₹402 crore was utilised in FY 2025–26 to provide subsidy on stubble management machinery. With an enhanced budgetary provision of ₹600 crore for FY 2026-27, he assured that the state is on track to offer a sustainable solution to this environmental challenge .
S. Khudian highlighted the allocation of ₹7,715 crore towards power subsidy for agriculture, ensuring the continuation of free and subsidised power to sustain irrigation and productivity .
Strengthening Allied Sectors for Rural Prosperity, the Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister underscored the bolstering of allied sectors to strengthen rural livelihoods. He welcomed the Rs 100 crore provision aimed at ensuring fair milk procurement prices for dairy farmers, safeguarding them against market fluctuations and supporting small and marginal producers. In the fisheries sector, he applauded the expansion of aquaculture, noting the production of over 1,500 lakh quality fish seed and the addition of nearly 3,000 acres under fish culture. “These measures are strengthening income diversification and employment generation across the state,” he added .
S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian stated, “This budget reflects the vision of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann—where the farmer is not just a food provider but the focus of governance. We are not just allocating funds, we are securing the future of Punjab’s agrarian economy and the dignity of its annadatas.”
