The good food component of the new Budget

Amid the clamour over how Budget 2025-26 has, yet again, let us down, there are some schemes that, if implemented well, could not only improve public health but also benefit the environment. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a few schemes promoting good, nutritious food, though she did not mention these side effects or perks.

One such initiative is the proposal for self-sufficiency in pulse production. Pulses, rich in protein, are an essential part of a balanced diet. The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses aims to promote crops such as toor (pigeon pea), urad (black gram) and masoor (red lentil) over the next six years. Since the plan involves procuring all the produce from farmers, it is expected that they would shift towards these crops. 

This shift comes with two side benefits. Legumes thrive in dry and arid conditions, making them well-suited to a warming planet. Additionally, scientists and activists have long advocated for increasing legume cultivation to improve soil fertility.

Legumes host nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules, which naturally enrich the soil. In the past, they were commonly used in intercropping and crop rotation to replenish soil nutrients. However, this practice declined with the widespread availability of nitrogenous fertilisers.

While India could continue importing pulses to meet nutritional needs, prioritising self-sufficiency would significantly benefit soil health. However, a contradiction emerges in the same budget. Alongside the promotion of pulse cultivation, the finance minister also announced a push for atmanirbharta in urea production, with plans to establish a urea production unit in Namrup, Assam. 

Urea provides nitrogen to the soil, but unlike rhizobium bacteria, it is a chemical that needs to be applied to the field. This raises concerns about conflicting policies and unfortunately, this is not the only example of counterproductive measures in the budget.

The finance minister also talked about the National Mission for Edible Oilseeds, which aims to promote crops such as soybean, groundnut, sunflower, sesame and rapeseed-mustard. A focus on traditional oilseeds is beneficial for both health and the environment.

Moreover, the seed cake produced after oil extraction serves as a nutritious livestock feed and can be added to organic manure, further enhancing soil quality.

This mission, launched in October 2024, is separate from the initiative promoting oil palm cultivation, which was introduced in 2021. Over the years, oil palm plantations have expanded across India, despite well-documented environmental concerns.

Palm oil production is notorious for driving deforestation, as old-growth forests are often cleared to make way for plantations. It would have been reassuring to know whether an emphasis on traditional edible oilseeds could help reduce dependence on harmful palm oil.

There are some more announcements in the Budget that are positive.

The minister introduced a programme to promote vegetable and fruit cultivation for better nutrition. This comprehensive initiative, developed in collaboration with state governments, will focus on enhancing production, improving supply chains, and ensuring fair prices for farmers.

While specific fruits have not been mentioned, many are tree-borne, requiring minimal daily care and proving more resilient to extreme weather conditions. Similarly, tree-borne vegetables could also be encouraged under this scheme.

Another promising move is the establishment of a Makhana Board in Bihar to boost production, processing, value addition and marketing of makhana (fox nuts). The board will provide training and support to makhana farmers, ensuring they benefit from relevant government schemes.

As makhana grows in wetlands — nature’s sponges — this initiative could indirectly contribute to wetland conservation. Wetlands are being lost worldwide due to encroachment, and a focused effort on makhana cultivation could help protect these fragile ecosystems.

However, as always, the real test lies in implementation. It remains to be seen whether these schemes will be effectively executed throughout the year.