Ahead of the state’s upcoming fiscal roadmap, Haryana Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana has called for a significant budgetary focus on soil health restoration and sustainable crop residue management. Speaking at a pre-Budget consultation meeting attended by senior officials and farmer representatives today, the Minister highlighted that long-term agricultural prosperity depends on maintaining the fertility of the land and mitigating environmental pollution caused by stubble burning.
Key Proposals for Budget 2026 The Minister outlined several priority areas that the department intends to champion in the next budget cycle:
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Soil Health Revolution: Minister Rana stressed the need for universal soil testing and the promotion of organic carbon enhancement. He proposed increasing the subsidy for green manuring and bio-fertilizers to reduce the heavy reliance on chemical inputs.
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Straw Management (CRM): To combat the menace of stubble burning, the Minister emphasized expanding the fleet of Crop Residue Management (CRM) machinery. He suggested higher incentives for ex-situ management, where straw is used for power generation and compressed biogas (CBG) plants.
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Water Conservation: The Minister also pushed for higher allocations toward micro-irrigation systems, linking soil health with moisture conservation to ensure better yield with less water.
Farmer-Centric Approach During the meeting, Shyam Singh Rana noted that the government aims to make farming more resilient against climate change. “Healthy soil is the foundation of a prosperous farmer. We must move toward a system where crop residue is treated as an asset rather than a liability,” he stated. He also indicated that the state might look into enhancing the financial support provided for the procurement of specialized tools used for ‘in-situ’ straw management.
Reaction and Next Steps The proposals have been submitted to the Finance Department for integration into the state budget. Farmer unions present at the meet welcomed the focus on soil health but urged the Minister to ensure that subsidies reach small and marginal farmers without bureaucratic hurdles.
The upcoming Haryana Budget is expected to reflect these priorities, with a potential increase in the outlay for the ‘Mera Pani, Meri Virasat’ scheme and the Soil Health Card mission.
