Budget 2025: Agri stakeholders welcome govt’s focus to bolster rural economy & sustainability

Experts and industry leaders share their reactions

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New Delhi: The Budget 2025 has sparked a spectrum of reactions, ranging from optimism over increased investments in technology and irrigation infrastructure to realignment of customs duty tariff for making several inputs.
Experts and industry leaders share their reactions.
In his reaction, Anil Kumar SG, Founder & MD, Samunnati said, “The recent budget announcements reaffirm that agriculture remains a cornerstone of India’s growth vision, which is indeed a welcome development. From developing 100 agri-districts to launching national missions for high-yield seeds, fruits, and vegetables, the focus is clear, boosting productivity, resilience, and farmer prosperity. The emphasis on climate-resilient seeds, enhanced credit access, and skilling programs for FPOs aligns with the mission to empower smallholder farmers. By adopting new technologies and sustainable practices, the Indian agri sector moves closer to securing the nation’s food future while strengthening rural economies. It is indeed a welcoming move by the Union Government, which is aligned with our Prime Minister’s vision of Vikshit Bharat.”
Prem Kumar Vislawath, CEO and Co-Founder, Marut Drones said, “The Union Budget 2025 marks a transformative moment for India’s farm mechanization sector, in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. The enhanced allocation of ₹57 crore to the PLI scheme for drones and drone components in FY 25 underscores the government’s strong commitment to driving innovation in agricultural technology. Initiatives like PM DDKY, which targets 100 low-productivity districts, are expected to significantly boost demand for farm machinery in areas with limited mechanization. Additionally, programs such as ‘Chalo Bihar’ aim to attract fresh investments in agriculture and infrastructure in states with a strong agricultural focus. These strategic policy shifts will open up new opportunities for farmers to adopt mechanization and drone technology, especially in agriculture-driven states.”
Dr Renuka Diwan, Co-founder and CEO, BioPrime said, “The Union Budget 2025-26 demonstrates a robust commitment to advancing India’s agricultural sector and ensuring nutritional security. With initiatives such as the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and the Developing Agri Districts Programme aim to enhance productivity and promote sustainable farming practices across 100 districts, benefiting more than 1.7 crore farmers.
The government’s strategy to achieve self-sufficiency in oilseeds—including mustard, groundnut, sesame, soybean, and sunflower—by strengthening their production, storage, and marketing is a significant move towards ‘atmanirbharta’. The establishment of large-scale clusters for vegetable production near major consumption centers will streamline supply chains and ensure fresher produce for consumers. The creation of the Makhana Board in Bihar is a commendable step to harness the potential of this superfood and empower rural communities.”
Dr Diwan added: “Furthermore, the National Mission on High Yielding Seeds will bolster agricultural resilience by developing and promoting seeds that are high-yielding, pest-resistant, and climate-resilient. The emphasis on leveraging advanced science and technology, coupled with the Deep Tech Fund of Funds, will catalyze next-generation innovation in agri-tech, paving the way for a self-reliant and nutritionally robust nation. The enhancement of investment and turnover limits for MSMEs by 2.5 times and 2 times, respectively, is a strategic move to empower these enterprises to scale up, innovate, and generate more employment opportunities for the youth. Collectively, these initiatives reflect a holistic approach to strengthening India’s food security, promoting sustainable agriculture, and fostering economic growth within the agricultural ecosystem.”
Aashish Kasad, National Leader – Chemicals and Agriculture sector, EY India, commented, “The 2025 Budget has underscored Agriculture as one of the power engines, unveiling a series of policies and financial plans for the sector, aimed at reaching the objective of Viksit Bharat. It presents a detailed approach to improving agricultural performance and stability, creating avenues for employment and skills training, promoting the progress of women, boosting digital and technological skills, stimulating innovation, extending infrastructure, and increasing the availability of credit to farmers, while also providing for self-sufficiency and a consumption-led growth, enabling a holistically healthy India!  Full marks for this Budget!”
Dr Sat Kumar Tomer, Founder & CEO, Satyukt Analytics said, “The Union Budget 2025 reaffirms the government’s commitment to transforming Indian agriculture through technology-driven solutions, with crop diversification, irrigation facilities, and financial support to 1.7 crore farmers representing significant strides toward improving productivity and resilience. Initiatives like the Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana and the National Mission for Edible Oils & Pulses will strengthen food security and self-reliance.”

“In addition, the announcement of the National Geospatial Mission is revolutionary, as real-time spatial data can transform precision farming by optimizing water and input in a small area under agriculture. As we move toward our climate-resilient future, satellite-based analytics embedded with government schemes will be like magic for farmers as they gain insights to work on sustainable and profitable agriculture,” added Dr Tomer.

Amit Vatsyayan, Leader -Agriculture, Livelihood, Social and Skills, EY India, said, “Government’s vision of targeted development of agri-districts with PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana, and the launch of national missions for high-yield seeds, fruits, and vegetables underscore a strong commitment to agricultural resilience. To maximize impact, integrating these initiatives with skilling programs for farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) is crucial, ensuring they can effectively adopt new technologies and sustainable practices. With India ranking second globally in fishery products, a structured policy framework for sustainable fisheries is both timely and essential.”
“Beyond infrastructure and regulatory clarity, building skills in value-added processing and exports can unlock greater economic potential. Likewise, the cotton productivity mission must integrate precision farming, digital advisory services, and supply chain optimization to drive long-term gains. Repositioning India Post as a rural economic catalyst and a large-scale public sector logistics player is a transformative move. Its vast network can bridge critical supply chain gaps for MSMEs, agri-entrepreneurs, and rural artisans. Investing in last-mile delivery technology and upskilling the workforce in digital and logistics management will be key to unlocking its full potential and driving inclusive growth,” added Vatsyayan.