India, Feb. 1 -- Agriculture took centre stage in the Union Budget 2026-27 as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman outlined a clear push towards high-value crops, allied activities and technology-driven farming.

Farming is an essential part of the Indian economy, reportedly employing nearly 55-56 per cent of the workforce and contributing around 18-19 per cent to the country's Gross Value Added (GVA) in recent years.

To help farmers earn more from their land, the Budget has prioritised diversification towards high-value crops. Support will be extended to coconut, sandalwood, cocoa and cashew in coastal regions, agarwood in the North East, and nuts such as walnuts, almonds and pine nuts, Nirmala Sitharaman said on Sunday as she presented ...