Hyderabad: Telangana Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao on Monday criticised the Union Budget 2026, claiming it ignored the needs of Telangana’s farmers and failed to support the state’s key agricultural sectors.
Speaking to reporters, Rao said the budget disappointed crores of farmers who rely on agriculture for their livelihoods. He alleged that the Centre’s refusal to increase import duty on oil palm would hurt local farmers and create long-term losses in the sector.
Union Budget 2026 Telangana farmers left without MSP, turmeric board funds
Rao also raised concerns over the continued neglect of the turmeric sector. He criticised the government for not allocating any funds to the proposed Turmeric Board and for failing to recognise turmeric as a high-value crop. Farmers had been expecting clarity and dedicated financial support, he said, but the budget delivered none.
According to Rao, soaring fertilizer prices and rising input costs will further strain the farming community. He said the budget offered no concrete measures to ensure Minimum Support Prices (MSP), crop price stability, or guaranteed income.
“The promise to double farmers’ income is once again reduced to political rhetoric,” he remarked.