Chandigarh, March 17, 2025 – Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has brought good news for farmers with a series of new announcements. While presenting the state budget during the Assembly session, Saini, who also holds the finance portfolio, proposed a significant increase in the budgets for agriculture and allied sectors. The agriculture budget will increase by 19.2%, horticulture by 95.50%, animal husbandry by 50.9%, and fisheries by a massive 144.40%.
Increased Budget for Farmers’ Welfare
The total budget for the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department has now been proposed at ₹4,229.29 crore. Saini emphasized that agriculture remains the backbone of Haryana’s economy and will continue to be a top priority for the government. The focus will be on reducing farming costs, increasing crop yields, ensuring MSP (Minimum Support Price) for all crops, improving soil health, maximizing irrigation efficiency, and promoting natural and organic farming.
Input from Farmers Incorporated into the Budget
Saini mentioned that during a consultation held on January 9 at Hisar Agricultural University, around 161 suggestions were received from farmers and agricultural organizations. Many speakers praised schemes like “Meri Fasal Mera Byora” portal, e-Kharid portal, “Mera Pani Meri Virasat”, and the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana. Saini said that the budget reflects most of the suggestions made during that consultation.
Bill to Protect Farmers from Fake Seeds and Pesticides
To safeguard farmers from counterfeit seeds and pesticides, Saini announced that a bill would be introduced during the current Assembly session. This bill aims to protect farmers from exploitation by unscrupulous dealers.
New Horticulture Policy Coming Soon
Saini also revealed plans for a new horticulture policy focused on value addition, storage, technology, and marketing. Both types of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)—those registered as companies and those as cooperatives—will now be eligible for government benefits under this policy. Currently, only FPOs registered as companies qualify for government schemes. This change will ensure equal support for all FPOs.
