The Centre plans to support the animal husbandry sector in entrepreneurship development through a credit-linked subsidy programme, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Sunday while presenting Union Budget 2026. She proposed a credit-linked subsidy programme to encourage livestock farmer producer organisations to promote employment opportunities. The government will work together with aquaculture organisations and animal husbandry bodies to provide quality employment opportunities in rural and semi-urban areas.
The budget promised to support high-value agriculture, which will make it possible for farmers to diversify farm outputs, increase productivity, enhance farmers' incomes, and create new employment opportunities. The Centre will support high-value crops such as coconut, sandalwood, and walnuts. "I propose a coconut promotion scheme to increase production and enhance productivity through various interventions, replacing non-productive trees with new saplings or varieties in major coconut-growing states," the Finance Minister said.
Further, the government intends to launch a dedicated programme for cashew and cocoa cultivation to make India self-reliant in raw cashew and cocoa production and processing. The initiative also aims to enhance export competitiveness and transform Indian cashew and Indian cocoa into premium global brands by 2030. It will also focus on strengthening value addition and branding. Additionally, sandalwood, which is closely linked to India’s social and cultural heritage, will receive focused attention under efforts to preserve and promote its legacy and economic potential.
