Union Budget 2026: 6 nuts that got attention of the government and why

Presenting the Union Budget 2026-27 in Parliament, the Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman stated that the third Kartavya, aligns with the Government’s vision of Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, to ensure that every family, community, region and sector has access to resources, amenities and opportunities for meaningful participation. In her speech, she laid stress on High Value Agriculture by supporting high value crops such as coconut, sandalwood, cocoa and cashew in the coastal areas. Agar trees in the North East and nuts such as almonds, walnuts and pine nuts in our hilly regions will also be supported. As another step towards the objective of increasing farmers’ income, the Union Budget 2026-27 also proposed a dedicated programme for Indian cashew and cocoa to make India self-reliant in raw cashew and cocoa production and processing, enhance export competitiveness and transform Indian Cashew and Indian Cocoa into premium global brands by 2030. This piece of information explores the six nuts that got attention by the government in the budget and why.

As per the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, walnuts are the most important temperate nut fruit in the country. Walnuts in India are found in different sizes and shapes. The Indian walnuts are categorized into 4 categories viz., paper-shelled, thin-shelled, medium-shelled and hard-shelled. Walnuts flourish at altitudes of 900 to 3000. Varieties that are native to India include Lake English, Drainovsky and Opex Caulchry in Jammu and Kashmir, Gobind, Eureka, Placentia, Wilson, Franquetfe and Kashmir Budded in Himachal Pradesh and Chakrata Selections in Uttrakhand. As per the ministry data, Jammu & Kashmir occupies the largest share in total area and production of walnut. The total area under cultivation in FY24' was 86.44 000ha and production was 307.11. And the country exported 2134.22 MT walnuts and 7.80 USD MI. The major export destinations were the United Arab Emts, Turkey, Iraq, Singapore, Algeria, Qatar, Bhutan, Kuwait, Seychelles and Nigeria.

According to the Coconut Development Board, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, India is the largest producer of coconut in the world. India leads in global production with 30.93% share (2020-21) and Karnataka has emerged as the leading state (2023-24), contributing 28.5% of total yield. Coconut as a rich source of healthy fats, especially medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), is an integral part of Indian diets.

As per the Ministry data 2024 , India ranked 4th globally in the export of Cashew Nuts Fresh/Dried Shelled (HS Code: 080132), holding an 6.60% market share, also India was the world's 12th largest importer of Cashew Nuts Fresh/Dried in Shell. India's Cashew Nuts production has increased from 782 thousand tonnes in 2022-23 to 795 thousand tonnes in 2023-24 registering a growth rate of 1.66 per cent. Cultivation of cashew in India is confined mainly to the peninsular areas. It is grown in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Goa, along the west coast of the country and in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal along the east coast of the country. To a limited extent it is being cultivated in Chhattisgarh, North Eastern States (Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland) and on Andaman and Nicobar Islands. There is an ever-increasing demand for cashew kernels both in the international market and in the domestic market. The industry faces challenges such as reliance on imported raw cashew nuts to meet demand. Government initiatives under MIDH and RKVY aim to boost production through expanded cultivation and high-yield variety adoption across traditional and non-traditional states.

According to the UDSA Post, local office in New Delhi, there was a forecast of 3 per cent rise in India’s almond imports for marketing year (MY) 2025-26 beginning August, on increasing consumption even as the domestic production is projected to be lower with adverse climatic conditions impacting the production. The Post also said that almond imports will rise to over 1.9 lakh tonne (shelled basis) from previous year’s 1.84 lakh tonne. Production is forecast down at 4,100 tonne from previous year’s 4,150 tonnes due to climate disruptions and insufficient soil moisture in the top almond-producing states of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. As far as the benefits of this nut is concerned, it is rich in healthy fats, plant protein, and dietary fibre, which support heart health, muscle function, and long-lasting satiety. It is also a rich source of vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that promotes glowing skin and protects cells from damage. Almonds also provide magnesium, calcium, and B vitamins, aiding bone strength, brain function, and energy metabolism.

According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, cocoa is a commercial plantation crop. The seeds of cocoa fruit yield flavoured cocoa powder on fermentation. Cocoa is hardly grown as a mono-crop. Its imminent capacity to share the alley spaces of tall-growing Coconut and Arecanut palms and its combining ability with the microclimatic conditions available in such perennial gardens helps its cultivation in utilizing such areas without exacting for an independent growing climate of its own. The common varieties native to India are Cocoa Beans, Cocoa powder of coating sugar, Cocoa shell husks skins and Cocoa butter fat & oil. The major areas of cocoa cultivation in India are Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The country exported 45,489.28 MT cocoa products and 295.58 ISD Mil in FY 25.

As per the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, pine nut production is concentrated in Himachal Pradesh (Kinnaur), Jammu & Kashmir, and Uttarakhand. Pine nuts are rich in healthy monounsaturated fats, which support heart health and help manage cholesterol levels. They provide a good amount of plant-based protein, iron, magnesium, and zinc, aiding energy production, immunity, and muscle function. Pine nuts also contain pinolenic acid, known to promote satiety and support weight management by helping control appetite.

Images Courtesy: istock