India will launch a new programme across 100 districts to boost farm productivity, along with measures to expand irrigation and credit limit to farmers, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said while presenting Union Budget 2025-26. Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on Saturday. (Sanjeev Verma/ HT Photo) Highlighting agriculture as an engine of growth, the FM said the government would roll out a PM Dhandhanya Krishi Yojana, which will target regions with low farm productivity and crop intensity, aiming to reach an estimated 10.7 million farmers. The total allocation for the ministry, however, saw a cut of 2.9%. Compared to ₹1.31 lakh crore allocated in 2024-25, as per revised estimates (RE), the outlay for 2025-26 stood at ₹1.27 lakh crore. The amount for capital expenditure in the sector for 2025-26 stood at ₹87.87 crore, compared to ₹118.63 crore in the previous year (RE). “Motivated by the success of the Aspirational Districts Programme, our government will undertake a ‘Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’ in partnership with states,” Sitharaman said, presenting her eighth …