New Delhi, Jan. 29 -- Raise the budget for agriculture sector, implement farm-friendly land acquisition policy, promote organic farming, set up plug-and-play infrastructure for small and medium enterprises and provide dedicated land for street-vending are key demands of institutions affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological front of the ruling BJP. The Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), a leading farmer's movement, asked the central government to raise the share of agriculture in the Union budget. The budgetary allocations to the department of agriculture and farmers welfare (DA&FW) and the department of agricultural research and education were Rs.1,27,290.16 crore and Rs.10,466.39 crore, respectively. Together, the total allocation of the agriculture ministry in FY26 is Rs.137,756.55 crore at the budget estimate (BE) stage, 2.7% of the budget, according to PRS Legislative Research. A government official, who did not wish to be named, said agriculture sector is the first priority of the Narendra Modi government. "Budgetary allocations to DA&FW alone have been raised significantly over years. The BE for the department in 2013-14 was a mere Rs.21,933.50 crore. It has been increased to Rs.1,27,290.16 crore now at BE of 2025-26," he added. BKS also asked the government to intensify its efforts for organic farming. "In order to give priority to natural farming and organic farming, the government while presenting the 2024-25 budget said it will cover one crore (10 million) farmers through the schemes and incentives, but till now fewer than 10 lakh (1 million) farmers have been roped in for organic farming," said BKS general secretary Mohini Mohan Mishra. According to the BKS, Kerala website, the association has about 10 million members across India. Mishra said research institutions, government subsidies on fertilizers to industry, and information on chemical farming techniques are creating obstacles for farmers to adopt natural farming or organic farming. "In organic or natural farming there is absolutely no fertilizer; even in integrated farming mostly manure is used. Therefore, instead of giving subsidies on fertilizers, the subsidy amount should be given directly into the farmer's account through the Kisan Nidhi per acre," he said, adding that it will encourage them to use manure. Besides BKS, the Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), an economic and cultural organisation promoting national self-reliance, also gave its customary suggestions to the finance ministry ahead of the annual budget, scheduled on February 1. According to people aware of the matter, various-RSS-affiliated bodies proposed their recommendations at a meeting with Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman along with representatives of other associations. BKS also sought reforms in the land acquisition policy, urging the government to ensure traditional farming land should not be converted for commercial purposes....