The government gives priority to the poor, women and youth as well as farmers (“Annadata”), as PM Narendra Modi has repeatedly stressed. The support includes increasing allocations for **Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare** (DA&FW) – from ₹21,933 crore in 2013-14 to **₹1.27 lakh crore in BE 2025-26 (total ministry allocation including research/education around ₹1.37-1.38 lakh crore). Expenditure across ministries (irrigation, fertiliser, rural employment, research) has doubled since 2018, although agriculture’s share in total expenditure has declined relatively.

Main expectations and demands of farmers:

– **Legal/profit-guaranteed MSP** for all crops (currently covers 22 crops; example of onion is often cited for distress sale, where price is ₹0.50-2/kg, compared to ₹35-50/kg in cities).

– Better **fertilizer subsidies**, improved irrigation, and effective compensation for crop losses (e.g., through the PM Crop Insurance Scheme, which has been criticized for poor delivery in floods/droughts).

– **P. Krishna Prasad** (leader associated with Sanyukt Kisan Morcha) urges implementation of MSP to reduce the profits of middlemen and ensure profitability.

– RSS-affiliated **Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS)**, whose general secretary is **Mohini Mohan Mishra**, prefers wider **market access** rather than uniform MSP (citing regional cost variations, e.g. Odisha/West Bengal vs Punjab). It wants review of GST on irrigation pumps/pipes, promotion of organic farming, controlling import of pulses/oilseeds for self-reliance, diversification into animal husbandry/beekeeping/mushroom cultivation for small/landless farmers, and more domestic agricultural research/education rather than global linkages. Small/marginal farmers (over 80% owning less than 2 hectares of land) remain vulnerable despite schemes like PM-KISAN, insurance, subsidies and credit. Moving beyond mere aid, major policy changes towards strengthening, market reforms and technology are considered necessary. Farmers are waiting for the promises made in the budget to resolve these issues amid economic pressures.