Chandigarh, March 9 -- Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Sunday allocated Rs.15,377 crore for agriculture and allied sectors in the state budget for 2026-27, with a focus on crop diversification, market reforms and farmer welfare.

Presenting the budget, Cheema said 50% of the allocation will be spent on providing free power to around 14.5 lakh agricultural tubewells, which irrigate 32-35 lakh hectares of farmland during the rabi and kharif seasons.

"Punjab accounts for nearly 3% of the country's total cultivated area, yet contributes about 40% of wheat and 31% of rice to the central grain pool," Cheema said, adding that the state continues to play a critical role in ensuring national food security.

During the 2025-26 fisca...