New Delhi, Feb. 2 -- The government will strengthen high-value crop ecosystem, focusing on production of coconut, cashew and sandalwood, along with a new multilingual artificial intelligence (AI) tool, to raise farm productivity and incomes, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, delivering her 9th budget on Sunday. The budget allocated Rs.1,30,561 crore for the department of agriculture and farmers' welfare, up 6% from the final allocation (revised estimates or RE) of Rs.1,23,089.34 crore during 2025-26 and against a budget estimate (BE) of Rs.1,27,290 crore. "To diversify farm outputs, increase productivity, enhance farmers' incomes, and create new employment opportunities, we will support high value crops such as coconut, sandalwood, cocoa and cashew in our coastal areas," Sitharaman said....