Shivraj Singh Chouhan discusses agriculture, rural development with FM Sitharaman
New Delhi, Jan 12
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and held extensive pre-Budget consultations on various aspects related to agriculture and rural development.
He expressed confidence that the Budget for financial year 2026-27 will prove to be a milestone in realising the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resolve of 'Prosperous Farmers, Empowered Villages'.
Chouhan visited various states across the country and, apart from the states, has also held wide-ranging interactions in Delhi with progressive farmers, agricultural experts, Self-Help Groups, cooperative institutions, rural industries, and senior representatives of national-level institutions related to both the ministries.
"The ideas and suggestions emerging from these discussions were compiled into a comprehensive set of recommendations on agriculture and rural development, which he submitted to the Finance Minister," said an official statement.
Chouhan said that under the leadership of PM Modi, the Central government is continuously working to make rural India self-reliant and prosperous.
Under the Prime Minister's capable and visionary leadership, the upcoming Union Budget will be encouraging for farmers and rural communities, he stated.
Meanwhile, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has confirmed that FM Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2026-27 on February 1, which happens to be a Sunday.
The Finance Minister will begin the presentation of the Budget at 11 a.m. in the lower house on February 1, the Speaker said in response to a question at a press conference. The Budget Session of the Parliament will commence on January 28 and will continue till April 2.
There was some uncertainty on the exact date as the usual date of February 1 for the presentation of the budget fell on a Sunday this year. The Lok Sabha Speaker has now clarified the issue.
— IANS
Reader Comments
'Prosperous Farmers, Empowered Villages' is a great vision. But we need more than slogans. The budget must allocate serious funds for rural infrastructure - better roads, storage godowns, and reliable electricity for irrigation. That's what will truly make villages self-reliant.
Consulting with progressive farmers and SHGs is a positive step. Ground-level feedback is crucial. Hope the recommendations include support for organic farming and women-led agri-enterprises. The Annadata truly deserves a supportive budget.
My father is a farmer in Punjab. Every year we hear big talks before the budget, but the reality of debt and crop failure doesn't change. I respectfully urge the ministers to move beyond consultations and announce a concrete, long-term income support policy. Jai Kisan.
Interesting to see the process. Holding the budget presentation on a Sunday shows commitment. The focus on compiling suggestions from across the country is a good approach to policy-making. Hope it translates into effective measures for rural development.
Budget on a Sunday! 😄 That's a first. On a serious note, the mention of rural industries and cooperatives is key. We need to create non-farm jobs in villages to stop migration to cities. Fingers crossed for a budget that boosts village entrepreneurship.
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