The 3-kartavyas approach taken by the government for the Union Budget 2026-27 focuses on economic growth, aspirations of Indians leading to prosperity and third ensuring access to all resources.
It recognised fisheries and animal husbandry as growth sectors that can deliver both livelihoods and scale. The focus on developing 500 reservoirs and Amrit Sarovars in coastal areas will help strengthen fish availability at the source, and involving women and local groups will bring greater stability and continuity to the supply chain, something the seafood industry has long needed. The budget also gives a fresh momentum to fisheries by focusing on sustainability, infrastructure and stronger market linkages. Investments in landing centres, cold chains and processing will help reduce losses and improve price realisation. The decision to allow duty-free fish catch by Indian vessels in the EEZ and on the high seas, and to treat landings at foreign ports as exports, is a positive step that improves competitiveness and opens up better access to global markets, especially with the US Tariff scenario.
In animal husbandry, the credit-linked subsidy programme and technology modernisation in dairy and poultry directly address long-standing challenges around productivity and efficiency. By strengthening value chains from accessibility of veterinary professionals to agricultural output and processing, the Budget supports higher efficiency, greater farmer participation in value-added segments and improved availability of milk, eggs and protein-rich foods, highlighting the growing role of allied sectors in India’s journey toward Viksit Bharat. The extension of tax deductions for cooperative members supplying cattle feed is another practical measure that helps ease input cost pressures and strengthens the cooperative ecosystem. Taken together, these initiatives can improve farmer–industry linkages, ensure more consistent raw material supply and support sustainable, organised growth across India’s protein sectors.
