India’s Union Budget 2026-27 expected to boost poultry sector to expand at faster rate

The Union Budget is expected to further boost to expansion of the poultry industry currently valued at around USD 30 billion and at present engages three million people from farm to retail outlets.

Ricky Thaper

Joint Secretary of the Poultry Federation of India

India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget for 2026-27 has focused on boosting the agriculture-allied sectors including livestock aimed at boosting farmers income, wrote Ricky Thaper, Joint Secretary at the Poultry Federation of India in his report.

The Economic Survey 2025-26 has stated that while food grain production has increased in recent years, higher-value allied sectors, such as livestock, fisheries, and horticulture, are assuming an increasingly important role in enhancing income opportunities and strengthening rural livelihoods.

Stating that livestock contribute close to 16% of the farm income for farmers in the country, Mrs Sitharaman announced increasing availability of veterinary professionals by more than 20,000 would boost animal health and ensure faster response to the disease outbreak.

To boost employment opportunities in rural areas through entrepreneurship development in the animal husbandry sector through provision for a credit-linked subsidy program, expanding and modernization of livestock enterprises, enhance creation of livestock, dairy and poultry-focused integrated-value chains and encourage creation of livestock farmer producers’ organizations have been announced in the budget for the next fiscal.