New Delhi, Feb. 1 -- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman identified agriculture as "the first engine" for India's development journey with the announcement of a slew of measures in Budget 2025-26 to raise farm production and increase the incomes of farmers.

She said that a Makhana Board would be set up in Bihar, to improve the production, processing, value addition, and marketing of makhana (fox nut) as well as support the people engaged in these activities to be organised into Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). The Board will provide handholding and training support to makhana farmers and also work to ensure they receive the benefits of all relevant government schemes, she added.

The Minister also stated that a National Mission on H...