Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini led a crucial pre-budget consultation meeting on Thursday. The gathering took place at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University in Hisar.
Farmers at the Heart of Budget Planning
The meeting aimed to accelerate holistic agricultural growth across Haryana. It focused on enhancing farmers' incomes and strengthening agriculture along with allied sectors. Progressive farmers, agricultural scientists, and representatives from farmer-producer organisations attended. Stakeholders from animal husbandry, horticulture, fisheries, and the rural economy also joined to provide their inputs for the state budget for 2026-27.
Addressing the participants, Chief Minister Saini made a firm commitment. He stated that the government is framing policies with farmers' needs and challenges at the core. Agriculture will continue to receive the highest priority in the upcoming budget allocations.
Agriculture: The Backbone of Economy and Culture
The Chief Minister underlined the vital role agriculture plays in sustaining the country's economy. "The real India lives in its villages," Saini said. He emphasized that Haryana's identity is deeply rooted in its hardworking farmers and a robust rural economy. Therefore, agriculture and allied sectors will receive special focus in the forthcoming financial plan.
Saini shared a personal connection to the cause. He mentioned that this consultation held emotional significance for him as the son of a farmer. He understands the hardships of farming firsthand. The CM stressed that farmers are not merely food producers. They are the custodians of India's rich culture, traditions, and civilisation.
Building on Past Consultations
The Chief Minister recalled the previous pre-budget consultation held on January 9, 2025. He noted that 161 valuable suggestions were received from farmers and experts during that session. Out of those, 99 key suggestions were successfully incorporated into the budget for 2025-26.
Based on these inputs, the government took several historic and practical decisions for the agriculture sector. This process demonstrates a continued commitment to participatory budgeting.
Focus on Modern Technology and Innovation
Chief Minister Saini called upon agricultural scientists present at the meeting. He stressed the urgent need to promote the use of modern technologies in farming practices. Saini urged researchers to focus their work on innovations that achieve two main goals.
- First, reduce input costs for farmers.
- Second, increase overall profitability for the farming community.
Such advancements would enable farmers to keep pace with rapidly changing times and market demands.
Recent Government Initiatives for Farmers
The CM highlighted several key initiatives already undertaken by his administration to support agriculture.
- Strong Seed Law: The government enacted strict legislation to prevent the sale of spurious and substandard seeds, protecting farmers from fraud.
- Morni Action Plan: A special agriculture and horticulture action plan was prepared specifically for the Morni region to boost local production.
- Natural Farming Push: Initiatives promoting natural and sustainable farming methods were further strengthened across the state.
- Water Conservation Support: Financial assistance under the Mera Pani–Meri Virasat Scheme was enhanced. This move aims to promote crucial water conservation efforts and encourage crop diversification among farmers.
The pre-budget consultation marks a significant step in shaping Haryana's agricultural future. It ensures that the voices of those who feed the nation are heard directly in the financial planning process.
