Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday emphasised the need to make Indian agriculture more export-oriented and technology-driven, stating that scaling high-value agriculture could transform the sector into a globally competitive engine of rural prosperity.
Addressing the post-Budget webinar on “Agriculture and Rural Transformation”, the Prime Minister said the Union Budget 2026-27 gives a strong push to the agriculture sector and rural development, and called for coordinated efforts to ensure that the provisions announced in the Budget translate into tangible benefits on the ground.
PM Modi said agriculture remains the mainstay of the Indian economy and a strategic pillar of long-term development, noting that several government initiatives over the past decade have strengthened the sector and reduced risks for farmers.
Highlighting key schemes, he said nearly 10 crore farmers have received more than ₹4 lakh crore under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, while close to ₹2 lakh crore in insurance claims have been settled through the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. Institutional credit coverage for farmers has also expanded significantly, helping provide them greater economic security.
The Prime Minister said global demand patterns are changing and urged stakeholders to shift towards export-oriented agriculture, greater crop diversification and high-value farming.
“If we scale high-value agriculture together, it will transform agriculture into a globally competitive sector,” he said, adding that increased export-oriented production would generate rural employment through processing and value addition.
He highlighted the government’s focus on promoting region-specific high-value crops, including cocoa, cashew and sandalwood, as well as agarwood cultivation in the Northeast and temperate nut crops in the Himalayan states.
PM Modi also pointed to the fisheries sector as a major opportunity for export growth, noting that India is already the world’s second-largest fish producer. He said production from reservoirs and ponds could increase significantly with improved hatcheries, feed systems and logistics.
Calling fisheries a high-value, high-impact sector for rural prosperity, the Prime Minister urged stronger coordination between the fisheries department and local communities to unlock its full potential.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of livestock and dairy sectors, noting that India is the world’s largest milk producer and the second-largest producer of eggs. He said improving breeding quality, disease prevention and scientific livestock management would further strengthen rural incomes.
More than 125 crore vaccine doses have been administered to livestock to prevent foot-and-mouth disease, he said, adding that the government is promoting technology adoption under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission and encouraging private investment through the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund.
Emphasising the role of technology in modernising agriculture, PM Modi said the government is building digital public infrastructure for agriculture through AgriStack. Initiatives such as Kisan IDs and digital land surveys are helping create a robust data-driven ecosystem for farmers.
“Technology delivers results when systems adopt it, institutions integrate it, and entrepreneurs build innovations on it,” the Prime Minister said, urging greater use of digital tools and artificial intelligence to connect research institutions with farmers.
He also stressed the need for crop diversification to reduce risks, citing missions related to edible oils, pulses and natural farming as important steps in strengthening the agriculture sector.
Highlighting the role of rural women in economic development, PM Modi referred to the “Lakhpati Didi” initiative, which aims to support women entrepreneurs through self-help groups. The government has already enabled three crore women to achieve higher incomes, with a target to create three crore more “Lakhpati Didis” by 2029, he said.
The Prime Minister concluded by calling on experts, industry stakeholders and entrepreneurs to invest in agri-fintech, storage infrastructure and supply chains, expressing confidence that the discussions at the webinar would help accelerate the implementation of the Budget’s agriculture and rural development agenda.
