Cuts in Agricultural Education and Research in the Budget Raise Questions on Claims of Self-Reliant Farming

In an agriculture-dependent country like India, the Union Budget is not merely a document of government expenditure; it shapes the future of nearly 140 million farmer families whose livelihoods are directly linked to farming. Agricultural universities and colleges are where the scientists, experts, and policymakers are trained—those who will modernise Indian agriculture in the decades to come. However, the figures in the 2026–27 Budget raise serious concerns on this front. Even as the government keeps talking of "self- reliant farmers" and "modern agriculture, " a drastic 27 per cent cut in the budget for agricultural education and management sharply contradicts these claims.

The budget for agricultural education and management has been slashed from 708.94 crore to 514.87 crore. This reduction is suspected to negatively impact the modernisation of agricultural universities, the establishment of new laboratories, updating curricula, and the availability of qualified teaching staff. The fear that agricultural institutions might eventually become just "degree granting centres" is gaining strength. The issue is quite simple. If the future generation is not equipped with modern technology, data, driven farming, and climate resilient cropping systems, then who will be the ones to solve the agricultural problems of the future?

Contrary to official claims, the budget numbers suggest that efforts to attract youth to agriculture remain largely on paper. Throughout the year, farming and farmers are projected as priorities, but when it comes to allocating resources, long-term investments such as education and research are the first to face cuts.Consequently, farmers are still finding it difficult to get rid of their conventional cultures and habits. The budget 2026, 27 clearly highlights a concentration on the management of short term subsidies and cash transfers only, without an evident willingness of structural and long term reforms. Considerably below the necessity, the allocation appears to be grossly inadequate amidst the increase in input prices and inflation.

The scenario of agricultural research is as desolate as the farming one. The Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) budget has been cut by 4.7 per cent, from Rs 10, 466 crore to Rs 9, 967 crore. The reduction is at a time when climate change is posing new challenges to agriculture through droughts, unseasonal rains, and rising temperatures.

Agricultural policy documents reveal that agricultural research generates returns of around 11.69 for every rupee invested, whereas the returns can be over 20 in animal science. But, nonetheless, the decision to cut down the budget of major organizations such as the ICAR is generally regarded as compromising future food security.

Another revealing aspect of the budget lies in the “revised estimates.” The government had initially planned to allocate an amount of 1.27 lakh crore to agriculture for the year 2025, 26, but the actual expenditure was only 1, 23, 089.30 crore, which is about 3.3 percent less than the target. The unspent 4, 200 crore does not represent savings; rather, it is a signal of the problems the government faces when it wants to implement programmes in the rural areas. While the cost of farming keeps going up, not even the properly funded money is being used, so the little increase in the budget may seem to be dishonest.

Taking the matter from a broader perspective, it is actually quite alarming. Agriculture along with allied sectors contribute around 18 per cent to India's GDP, which is nearly 60 lakh crore. However, the spending on agricultural research and development is only 0.33 per cent of agricultural GDP. Analysts say if India wants to be an internationally competitive agricultural nation, investment in this area should be increased to at least 1 per cent. Even though the share of agriculture in GDP of developed countries is smaller, they invest much more in technology, seeds, and innovation than India does.

The figures of these budgets are very clear that if education and research are not prioritised, Indian farmers could be deserted in the battle against climate change and food insecurity. Self, reliance cannot be based on subsidies alone; it needs robust research ecosystems, up to, date education, and successful implementation. The crops of self- reliance can't grow without knowledge as fertilizer and research as water. The need of the hour is for the government to move beyond announcements and commit to real investment and execution—because the future of Indian agriculture will be secured not by electoral promises, but by the decisions taken today on education and research.