Rewriting India’s agricultural future: A unified vision for Union Budget 2026
India’s journey towards agricultural transformation is a ground game, defined by how effectively our national policy connects with the daily realities of the farm.
From my vantage point in the crop protection sector, the choices a farmer makes are shaped by forces more immediate than policy: relentless climate volatility, evolving pest pressures, shrinking margins and fragmented market access.
India’s Union Budget 2026 must, therefore, rise to this complexity. Instead of isolated schemes, it needs to architect a reform strategy that fortifies the entire agricultural value chain.
The equation of efficiency: Beyond subsidies
A critical step towards this is redefining subsidies. If financial support shifts towards promoting efficiencies and resource-smart farming, it must be paired with guaranteed access to the necessary technologies. Efficiency remains an abstraction unless farmers have the full stack of solutions: quality seeds, reliable crop protection, precise nutrition and timely digital advisories. Without this systemic linkage, the aspiration of efficiency will never become an on-ground outcome.
Resilience through integrated science
The intensifying threat of erratic weather necessitates more than just climate adaptation; it demands integrated resilience. Strengthening the nexus of water–soil–climate management must be complemented by science-backed crop protection. Investment in modern tools—from early warning systems and advanced resistance management to enhanced residue compliance and farmer education—can drastically mitigate crop loss and secure India’s standing in global markets.
For decades, our efforts have been dedicated towards building a future-ready agricultural ecosystem, merging world-class R&D with a deep on-ground presence. Our research teams are committed to developing safer, more efficient crop protection technologies and high-quality seeds that unlock higher productivity even in the most challenging climates.
However, India is a complex market, and what differentiates our approach is having trained agri-experts, who are on the front lines each day, engaging directly with farmers. They translate advanced science into practical wisdom, providing precise, personalised recommendations tailored to the unique conditions of local soil, crop and climate. This human-centric problem solving, combined with scientific excellence, is essential to mitigating the risks of uncertain pest attacks and climate abnormalities.
To achieve success, policy must also focus on capital formation. Accelerating the establishment of universal digital land records and modernising credit access will fundamentally change the farmer’s risk profile. With clear land ownership and predictable finance, a farmer can finally transition from reactive decision-making to planned, technology-led farming. This is the inflection point where the adoption of advanced crop protection and stewardship practices meaningfully increases.
Finally, if India is to lead global agricultural exports, its supply chains must embed robust traceability, quality assurance and sustainable input use. Public–private collaboration is the fastest path to achieve this, particularly in areas like safe pesticide use, national surveillance systems and the adoption of environmentally responsible formulations.
Budget 2026 holds the opportunity to define a new agricultural architecture: one that is climate-secure, data-led, globally competitive and—most importantly—built around the farmer. Aligning policy with science, technology and responsible crop protection will be the cornerstone of that future.
(The author is Executive Chairman and Managing Director, Crystal Crop Protection Ltd.)
Published on January 11, 2026
