Third session of Post-Budget Webinar chaired by the Prime Minister concludes, focus on agriculture and rural development
Third session of Post-Budget Webinar chaired by the Prime Minister concludes, focus on agriculture and rural development
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chaired the third session of the Post-Budget Webinar today on the theme of ‘Agriculture and Rural Transformation’. The government organised the webinar to discuss the implementation of schemes announced in Union Budget 2026-27 and to seek suggestions from people so that these initiatives can be successfully implemented on the ground. Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan addressed the concluding session of the webinar. During his address, he said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s remarkable vision has enabled such webinars to connect lakhs of ordinary citizens with the policymaking and implementation process, allowing wider public participation in discussions on agriculture, rural transformation, and the effective execution of government programmes and schemes.
He said that the discussion held today on the theme of ‘Agriculture and Rural Transformation’ was comprehensive and serious in nature. From the perspective of agriculture, he noted that there is a need to increase the production of crops such as coconut, cashew and other similar crops. For this purpose, it will be necessary to expand the area under cultivation and at the same time enhance productivity.
The Union Agriculture Minister said that to increase productivity, it is essential to ensure the availability of clean and disease-free planting material. Along with this, special attention must also be paid to reducing the cost of cultivation.
Shri Chouhan said that ensuring food security, increasing farmers’ income and promoting agricultural exports are among the key priorities of the government. From the perspective of exports, there is a need to place special emphasis on quality food products and value addition. In addition, crop diversification must be encouraged and greater emphasis should be placed on adopting intercropping practices.
Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that most farmers in the country possess very small landholdings, due to which their income remains comparatively low. In such a situation, it becomes necessary to promote an integrated farming system. Along with crop cultivation, the country must also move forward in the direction of animal husbandry and tree-based agriculture.
In his address, Shri Chouhan also emphasised the importance of enabling farmers to easily access markets for their products. He said that the establishment of ‘SHE MART’ is also receiving special attention. In this direction, the government is now moving forward with a plan to establish one ‘SHE MART’ in every district. He further stated that the government had earlier set a target of creating 3 crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’, which was achieved 15 months ahead of schedule. Now, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has set a new target of creating 3 crore more ‘Lakhpati Didis’. Shri Chouhan expressed confidence that under the leadership of the Prime Minister this new target will also be achieved within the stipulated time. Efforts are also being made to transform women associated with Self-Help Groups (SHGs) into entrepreneurs.
At the end of his address, the Union Agriculture Minister thanked all those who participated in the webinar. He said that even after this session, if anyone had suggestions related to the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, they should certainly share them. He expressed confidence that the proper and effective implementation of schemes related to agriculture and rural development will help achieve the national goal of ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India).
During the concluding session of the webinar, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri S. P. Singh Baghel, also addressed the participants. In his remarks, he discussed the achievements of his department and outlined the strategy for the future. In the concluding session of the webinar, presentations were also made by the Secretaries of the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry, and the Ministry of Rural Development. These presentations outlined the roadmap for the rapid implementation of the measures highlighted in the Union Budget.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi formally inaugurated the webinar by addressing the participants in the morning. During his address, he said that such an exercise after the presentation of the Union Budget is extremely important.
According to the Prime Minister, this process helps in translating the provisions of the budget into reality with the support of suggestions received from stakeholders and the public. The Prime Minister emphasised that agriculture is the main foundation of the Indian economy and an important pillar of the country’s long-term development. Shri Modi highlighted several initiatives, including the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi and the Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism, which have significantly benefited farmers. He stated that the government has consistently strengthened the agricultural sector through various initiatives and policy measures.
Presenting figures that demonstrate the success of existing schemes, the Prime Minister said that more than 10 crore farmers have received over ₹4 lakh crore under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. Similarly, under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, insurance claims worth nearly ₹2 lakh crore have been settled. The Prime Minister also noted that the coverage of institutional credit in the agricultural sector has now crossed 75 per cent, reflecting the expanding support for farmers through formal financial channels. Highlighting the need to further strengthen the rural economy, the Prime Minister called for infusing new energy into the agriculture and rural sectors as the country enters the second quarter of the 21st century. He emphasised that agriculture will continue to remain a central pillar in the development journey of the country.
Referring to the new initiatives introduced in the Union Budget this year, Shri Narendra Modi said that several important steps have been taken to further strengthen agriculture and rural development. He expressed confidence that the discussions and suggestions emerging from the webinar will help accelerate the implementation of the provisions announced in the Union Budget. The Prime Minister said he is confident that the ideas and recommendations generated during the webinar will play an important role in ensuring that the budget provisions are implemented at the ground level as quickly as possible. Through such consultations and discussions, the government aims to ensure that policy initiatives related to agriculture and rural development are implemented effectively and in a time-bound manner, ultimately contributing to the realisation of the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’.