Thrust on agri sector as CM unveils slew of farmer-friendly steps

The agriculture sector in Haryana appears poised to benefit as chief minister Nayab Singh Saini, who also holds the finance portfolio, unveiled a slew of farmer-friendly steps in what was a please-all peasants budgetary proposals for the 2025-26 fiscal presented in the assembly on Monday.

- Pawan Sharma

CHANDIGARH:

With the cultivators becoming restive over declining farm incomes, shrinking yields and soaring input costs, agriculture took centre stage in Saini's 63-page budget document that outlined 38 "important measures" specially for the farming community.

That agriculture sector was set to gain had become apparent when Saini was capping-off the lengthy debate on the governor's address in the assembly last week. Saini had declared that farmers' welfare remained the top priority of the BJP government. After Saini set the tone, agriculture minister Shayam Singh Rana had hinted at major announcement in the budget.

"Agriculture and allied activities are the backbone of our small state's economy and will continue to be so," Saini said, bringing the sector into the spotlight minutes after rising to present his maiden budget.