Agriculture Minister Joshi speaks on Union Budget in Almora

my uttarakhand news Bureau
Almora, 9 Feb: The State Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Ganesh Joshi, today reached Almora district and addressed a press conference on the Union Budget 2026–27 at the Municipal Corporation Auditorium.
During the press conference, Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi said that this is the 15th Union Budget presented under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He stated that the budget not only strengthens the country’s economy but also opens new avenues for the overall development of Himalayan states like Uttarakhand, which face challenging geographical conditions. He said that the budget will propel India forward toward the goal of “Viksit Bharat 2047”, with special emphasis on social inclusion, economic resilience, and strengthening infrastructure. He added that, since 2014, the Indian economy has undergone a fundamental transformation, which is clearly reflected in this budget. For this, he expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Finance Minister.
The Agriculture Minister said that the budget highlights India’s historic journey from being counted among weaker economies to becoming the world’s fourth-largest economy and one of the most trusted global growth stories. He informed that India’s GDP growth rate for the financial year 2026 is estimated at 7.4 percent, reflecting consumption- and investment-driven growth. This marks the fourth consecutive year that India has remained the fastest-growing major economy in the world, while the global growth rate remains around 3 percent.
Ganesh Joshi stated that special priority has been given to the agriculture sector in the Union Budget 2026–27, with a provision of ₹1.30 lakh crore for the Agriculture Department. Additionally, an allocation of Rs 95,692 crore has been made for rural development under the “Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural)”.
He further informed that under the “Lakhpati Didi” initiative, ‘She Mart’ retail outlets will be opened in every district, enabling women farmers and Self-Help Groups to sell their products directly. This will increase women’s income and strengthen their economic empowerment.
The Minister said that for hilly state like Uttarakhand the budget includes provisions for health and medical tourism, local employment generation, and the development of ecologically sensitive trekking and tourism routes in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir. These initiatives will enhance local income and give new momentum to the rural economy.
Joshi stated that the budget has given special focus to the upliftment and empowerment of four key groups — the poor, youth, farmers (Annadata), and women (Maatri Shakti). He said that several important provisions have been made in the budget to increase farmers’ income, strengthen the rural economy, create new employment opportunities for youth, and make women self-reliant.
On this occasion, Almora Mayor Ajay Verma, BJP District President Mahesh Nayal, and other dignitaries were also present.