Union Budget 2026, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has placed a significant emphasis on diversifying India's agricultural output and enhancing farmer incomes through targeted support for high-value crops. A standout announcement is the launch of a dedicated programme for Indian cashew and cocoa, signaling a strategic shift towards value addition, export competitiveness, and self-reliance in the agribusiness sector.
A Strategic Push for High-Value Plantation Crops
The budget outlines a clear vision to move beyond traditional staple crops by promoting cultivation of high-value commodities. The government will support crops such as coconut, sandalwood, cocoa, and cashew in coastal regions, agarwood in the North East, and nuts like walnuts, almonds, and pine nuts in hilly areas. This diversification strategy is aimed at increasing farm productivity, creating new rural employment opportunities, and making agriculture more remunerative for small and marginal farmers.
The Cashew and Cocoa Mission Explained
The centerpiece of the agribusiness announcements is a dedicated mission to make India self-reliant in raw cashew and cocoa production and processing. The programme has an ambitious goal: to transform Indian cashew and cocoa into premium global brands by 2030. This initiative will focus on the entire value chain, from improving cultivation practices to enhancing post-harvest processing and boosting export competitiveness. By building domestic capacity, the government aims to reduce dependence on raw cashew imports for processing and capture a larger share of the global market for finished products.
Boosting Coconut Cultivation
Complementing the focus on cashew and cocoa, the budget also introduced a new 'Coconut Promotion Scheme'. Recognizing India's position as the world's largest coconut producer and the crop's importance for the livelihood of nearly 30 million people, the scheme aims to increase both production and productivity. A key intervention will be the replacement of old, non-productive trees with improved, high-yielding varieties in major coconut-growing states. This move is expected to rejuvenate the sector and secure the incomes of millions of farmers dependent on coconut cultivation.
Key Agribusiness Announcements in Budget 2026