Ruchi Agrawal, we miss you.
Union Budget 2026-27 allocates Rs.8,550 Crore for ‘Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana’ (PM-RKVY). It subsumes most of the schemes in the Ministry. It also includes the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF). The allocation to NMNF is Rs.750 Crore notionally. RKVY is now converted into a cafeteria scheme with the state figuring out what they would like to. RKVY is a centrally sponsored scheme with a 60:40 funding split between the Centre and States (90:10 for NE/Himalayan states). NMNF, when launched in 2024, was a standalone scheme until March 2026. Now, it is being merged into RKVY. Krishonnati Yojana with allocation of Rs.11,200 Crore has also been merged into RKVY.
Allocations to the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare is Rs. 1,30,661.38 Crore. A marginal increase over last year. Nearly 50% of this would be direct transfers to farmers under PM-KISAN, @Rs.6,000/eligible household. Rs.150 Crore for Bharat-VISTAAR, a multilingual artificial intelligence (AI) tool. This will integrate the AgriStack (a collection of technology-based interventions in agriculture) portals and ICAR package on agricultural practices. GST on biopesticides reduced to 5%. KCC limit is being raised to Rs. 5 lakh.
The Government of Andhra Pradesh and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu plan to transform Andhra Pradesh into the largest natural farming hub in the country in the next 5 years with 4 million farmers, and 5 million acres. At present 1.8 million farmers have come forward to practice natural farming across 2 million acres in the State.
We are already below safe operating thresholds of Earth systems. Therefore, we need to transcend sustainability arguments, drivers, etc. We need to move to regeneration, restoration, recovery and so on. Andhra Pradesh wants to have 50% tree cover. How will this happen? How quickly will this happen? 20% forest cover, good or bad patches. 30% has to come from farm lands and fallow lands – some 80 lakh ha. 40 lakh ha, has to have trees. Even if we go for all fallow lands into tree cover, it may give 20 lakh ha.; and we need 25-30% tree cover on current farm lands. Can this be realized?
A new study and analysis says: our life span is mostly determined by our genes/genetics. 55% life span is heritable, barring external causes of death – accidents, infectious diseases, etc. Only 45% control comes from the environment we live in – exercise, nutrition, sleep, stress, pollution, disease exposure, etc.
A study. Only 23% Indian workers are salaried. As against this, it is more than 50% in the world. In advanced economies, this % goes up further. About 60% workers are self-employed; and 20% are in casual work. Majority of salaried jobs are in the services sector – education, trade, etc. Interestingly, they are not high-skilled. Most common salaried workers are sales persons in shops, etc.; domestic, office help; and teachers. The average income per month of the salaried – Rs.21,000; for the self-employed – Rs.13,200; for casual workers – Rs.9,000. Within these, women get 25% less wages vis-à-vis men. Overall, more than half of salaried workers in India (57%) do not have a written employment contract with the employer. Meaning: no great difference in salaried or self-employment for most. Can we reverse this? Can we make self-employment and entrepreneurship more rewarding?
Innermost in us, into us, in us. In our various states. Through all possibilities, windows. In various ways, nuanced ways. Trials and tribulations. Explorations, guided. Can we keep going?
Yes, we can. If we coexist, flowing. Safely scaffolded in the innermost. In N? antarangayoga for 7L.