With the Union Budget 2026 on the horizon, India’s agriculture, nutrition, and fertiliser sectors are advocating for forward-looking policies that go beyond short-term productivity gains. Industry leaders stress the importance of sustainable farming practices, biofortified crops, and nutrition-focused agriculture to address hidden hunger and micronutrient deficiencies in India’s diets.
Harsh Vardhan Bhagchandka, President of IPL Biologicals, welcomed the reduction of GST on biopesticides to 5% and urged the inclusion of biological fertilisers under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. Prateek Rastogi, Co-Founder of Better Nutrition, highlighted the need for policy shifts from yield-focused farming to nutrition-focused outcomes, including promoting biofortified seeds and nutrient-rich crops.
Fertiliser industry experts, including Abhishek Wadekar and Dr. RG Agarwal, called for a balanced policy approach with incentives for sustainable technologies, improved infrastructure, lower import dependence, higher R&D spending, and reduced GST on pesticides. They emphasize that Budget 2026 must translate policy announcements into tangible outcomes, supporting farmer incomes, innovation, and India’s food security.
If implemented effectively, these measures could make Indian agriculture healthier, more resilient, and globally competitive, addressing both productivity and nutrition for the long term.
