Issues Highlighted 

• Continuous Decline in Allocations: Agriculture Ministry's budget allocation as a percentage of total Central outlay continuously declined from 3.53% (2021-22) to 2.51% (2025-26).
• Underutilization of Fund: Actual utilization of funds by Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) for 2024-25 is 59.84% of allocated funds.
• Crop Residue: Lack of developed markets for crop residue utilization, such as for biofuel production or composting, which could offer farmers additional income. 

Recommendations 

• Change in Nomenclature: Rename ‘DA&FW’ to ‘Department of Agriculture, Farmers & Farm Labourers Welfare’ to acknowledge significant role of farm labourers in agricultural.
  • Expand PM-KISAN scheme to Farm Labourers.
• Establish National Commission for Minimum Living Wages for Farm Labourers: To address wage disparities and improve living standards.
• MSP for All Organic Crops: To incentivize farmers to transition to organic farming.
• Free and compulsory” crop insurance scheme: For small farmers with land holdings of up to 2 hectares.
• Multifaceted Approach for Crop Residue Management: Combination of policy interventions, farmer education, technological innovations, and financial incentives. 
• Others: Increase budgetary allocation for agriculture; strengthen Krishi Vigyan Kendras, effective advertisement & publicity campaigns for promotion of agricultural schemes etc.