Feeding the Future, the Union Budget Reinforces India’s Food and Dairy Value Chains
The Union Budget places renewed emphasis on food, dairy and nutrition by strengthening agricultural value chains, boosting farmer incomes, modernising livestock and fisheries, and promoting value addition across crops, animal husbandry and aquaculture for sustainable growth and nutritional security.
Coconut Promotion Scheme: Empowering 10 Million Farmers
Production Landscape
- India produces 14.7 billion coconuts annually, accounting for nearly 30% of global production
- Livelihood support for 30 million people, including 10 million farmers
Productivity Enhancement
- Replacement of senile palms (>60 years) with high-yielding varieties:
- Chowghat Orange Dwarf
- West Coast Tall hybrids
- Tissue culture propagation for disease-free planting material
- Drip irrigation and fertigation systems
- Integrated pest management targeting:
- Rhinoceros beetle
- Eriophyid mites
Value Addition & Processing
- Virgin coconut oil (cold-pressed, centrifugal extraction)
- Desiccated coconut
- Coconut milk powder and cream
- Coconut water processing and packaging
- Neera (coconut sap) tapping and preservation
- Activated carbon from coconut shells
- Coir fibre processing and diversified coir products
Nutrition & Functional Food Perspective
- Rich source of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), especially lauric acid
- Applications in metabolic health, cognitive support, skincare, and nutraceuticals
- Scope for pharmaceutical-grade coconut derivatives and functional food research
Indian Cashew & Cocoa Programme: Self-Reliance by 2030
Cashew Development
- Achieving self-reliance in raw cashew production
- Mechanisation of processing (currently ~90% manual)
- Premium “Indian Cashew” branding
- Export competitiveness enhancement
- Focus states:
- Goa
- Maharashtra
- Karnataka
- Kerala
Cocoa Mission
- Current import burden: ₹2,500 crore annually
- Target regions:
- Kerala
- Karnataka
- Andhra Pradesh
- Key interventions:
- Cultivation expansion
- Processing infrastructure
- Quality certification systems
- Farmer training and extension services
Sandalwood Ecosystem Restoration: Reviving a Heritage Resource
Strategic Interventions
- Partnership with State Governments for:
- Focused sandalwood cultivation programmes
- Post-harvest processing facilities
- Essential oil extraction technologies
- Sustainable harvesting and traceability systems
- End-to-end value chain integration
Economic Potential
- Sandalwood heartwood oil valued at ₹50,000–₹1,00,000 per kg in international markets
- Opportunity to revive India’s historic leadership through scientific cultivation and processing
Horticulture Expansion: Walnuts, Almonds and Pine Nuts
Geographic Focus
- Hill and temperate regions:
- Jammu & Kashmir
- Himachal Pradesh
- Uttarakhand
Key Objectives
- Rejuvenation of ageing, low-yield orchards
- Expansion of high-density plantations
- Modern post-harvest processing
- Youth employment in value-added horticulture
Import Substitution Potential
- Current imports exceeding ₹10,000 crore annually
Cultivation & Post-Harvest Technologies
- Grafting of superior varieties
- Precision irrigation systems
- Integrated nutrient and pest management
- Cold storage and logistics infrastructure
Animal Husbandry: Strengthening Veterinary and Breeding Infrastructure
Sector Overview
- Livestock contributes nearly 16% of farm income
- Dairy sector valued at approximately USD 140 billion
Credit-Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme
- Encouraging private investment in animal husbandry infrastructure
Veterinary & Para-Veterinary Capacity
- Expansion of veterinary and para-vet colleges
- Training 20,000+ professionals in:
- Veterinary medicine and surgery
- Veterinary public health
- Animal biotechnology and genetics
- Epidemiology and One Health approaches
Veterinary Hospitals & Diagnostic Labs
- Advanced imaging (ultrasound, digital radiography)
- Clinical pathology and microbiology
- Molecular diagnostics (PCR, ELISA)
- Reproductive technologies:
- Artificial insemination
- IVF
- Embryo transfer
Breeding & Genetics
- Genomic selection for dairy cattle
- Sex-sorted semen production
- Embryo cryopreservation
- Disease resistance breeding
- Conservation of indigenous breeds (Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi)
Fisheries: Reservoir-Based Aquaculture and Coastal Value Chains
Integrated Development
- Development of 500 reservoirs and Amrit Sarovars
Modern Aquaculture Systems
- Cage culture:
- Tilapia
- Pangasius
- Carp
- Pen culture for controlled inland fish production
Coastal & Market Linkages
- Strengthening Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs)
- Support for women-led SHGs and startups
- Infrastructure development:
- Cold chain systems
- Ice plants
- Refrigerated transport
- Processing units (filleting, freezing, value-added seafood)
Technology & Compliance
- Quality certification (FSSAI, export standards)
- E-commerce platforms for direct marketing
- Digital traceability systems
Export Potential
- India is the 4th largest fish producer globally
- Export growth target: USD 8 billion to USD 15 billion by 2030
By integrating science, value addition and infrastructure, these measures aim to transform India’s agri-food systems into resilient, high-income, nutrition-driven engines of rural and economic growth.
– Vamsi Priya Potharaju
