The Union Budget’s proposals underscore agriculture’s continued importance in India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat, with a strong focus on productivity, resilience and inclusive growth, according to Sunil Kataria, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Godrej Agrovet Ltd.
Kataria said the targeted emphasis on livestock, fisheries and allied sectors reflects a clear move towards diversified and income-resilient farming systems. He noted that the introduction of loan-linked capital support for veterinary education, hospitals, diagnostics and breeding infrastructure is a timely step that will help expand capacity and improve the quality and reach of veterinary services across rural India.
He also pointed to the potential of future science-led interventions in cattle genetics and breeding, which he said could significantly enhance livestock productivity and contribute to higher and more stable farm incomes. Welcoming the government’s push for technology-enabled agriculture, Kataria highlighted the proposed multilingual AI platform, describing it as a critical tool for delivering customised and risk-aware advisory services to farmers at scale amid changing climate and market dynamics.
Kataria further welcomed the extension of tax deductions to primary cooperatives supplying cattle feed and cotton seed to federal cooperatives and government organisations. He said the move would strengthen formal input supply chains and improve farmer realisation.
Overall, he said the Budget’s integrated approach combining innovation, inclusion, productivity and institutional support lays a robust foundation for a future-ready agricultural ecosystem and reinforces agriculture’s role in long-term economic growth.
