Jammu, Feb 06: Farmers in Jammu and Kashmir continue to face economic hardship as the Union Budget 2026–27 offers no special relief or region-specific measures for the Union Territory, said Bharat Priye, Chairman of the Kissan Congress Department, JKPCC, while addressing the media at the headquarters of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee at Shaheedi Chowk on Friday.
Priye said farmers in the Union Territory remain among the most distressed and vulnerable in the country and require special support because agriculture in the region is heavily dependent on weather, small and fragmented land holdings and weak market access. He said successive Union governments have failed to recognise these realities while preparing national budgets.
Referring to the overall agriculture outlay of about ₹1.62 lakh crore, Priye said higher figures on paper do not guarantee real support to farmers. He said several analysts and farmer organisations have expressed concern that actual spending on crop insurance and subsidies may remain stagnant or fall in real terms, creating a wide gap between announcements and delivery.
He pointed out that the allocation of nearly ₹12,200 crore for the national crop insurance programme is almost unchanged from the previous year. Priye said that rising climate risks, erratic rainfall and frequent natural disasters demand stronger protection for farmers. He added that high premiums, delayed claim payments and weak implementation continue to deny farmers timely compensation.
On fertilizer subsidies, he said the budget does not clearly announce any reduction in urea and DAP support, but changes in subsidy structures have created anxiety among farmers. He warned that any increase in fertilizer prices would raise cultivation costs and affect small and marginal farmers the most, especially in remote and hilly parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Priye also raised concern over the Goods and Services Tax on agricultural machinery. While the government claims that GST on several farm tools has been brought down to five per cent, he said the overall cost of tractors, pump sets, irrigation systems and modern equipment remains beyond the reach of many farmers. He demanded additional concessions and targeted exemptions for farmers of the Union Territory.
On Minimum Support Price, he said that increases for selected crops have little impact without a legal guarantee and reliable procurement. Weak purchasing systems, he said, prevent most farmers from benefiting from announced rates.
Priye demanded a legal backing for MSP, stronger crop insurance coverage, protection of fertilizer subsidies and further GST relief on farm machinery. He also sought dedicated, region-focused budget provisions for rural employment and agricultural development in Jammu and Kashmir. He warned that continued neglect of farmers’ issues would lead to wider resentment and protests.
