Syllabus: GS3/Agriculture
Context
- There is a need to assess India’s agricultural progress, persistent challenges, and reforms needed to ensure sustainable growth and higher farmers’ incomes.
About Indian Agriculture and Its Performance
- Agriculture remains the backbone of India’s economy, providing livelihoods to approximately 46.1% of the workforce, and is vital to India’s food security, rural employment and inclusive growth.
- India has moved from food shortages to becoming a leading producer and exporter of several agricultural commodities.
- Agricultural Growth: Average annual agricultural GDP growth at around 4% during 2014-15 to 2025-26.
- It has supported food security, but faster and more inclusive growth remains necessary.
- Irrigation: Irrigation coverage has expanded, although agriculture remains vulnerable to monsoon variability and regional water scarcity.
- Agricultural Trade: Agricultural exports at approximately $53 billion and imports at $40 billion in 2025-26.
- These figures require confirmation from final official trade statistics.
- Edible oils and pulses remain important import categories.
- Food Security: India maintains substantial rice and wheat stocks and provides free foodgrains to eligible beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).
Major Achievements (2014-2026)
- Foodgrain Security: Irrigation development, procurement and public distribution have strengthened the availability of essential cereals.
- Irrigation Development: The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) promotes irrigation expansion and water-use efficiency through Har Khet Ko Pani and Per Drop More Crop.
- Crop Insurance: The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) protects farmers against specified crop losses. Timely claim settlement and wider effective coverage remain important.
- Renewable Energy: PM-KUSUM promotes solar-powered agricultural pumps and decentralised solar power generation.
- Agricultural Diversification: Fisheries, dairy, poultry and horticulture offer opportunities to improve rural employment and farm incomes.
Major Challenges Facing Indian Agriculture
- Imbalanced Cropping Patterns: India faces a mismatch between production and demand. Rice and wheat surpluses coexist with import dependence on pulses and edible oils.
- Subsidies, assured procurement and established marketing arrangements favour certain crops.
- Excessive paddy cultivation in water-stressed regions contributes to groundwater depletion and environmental degradation.
- Inadequate Growth in Farmers’ Incomes: Rising input costs, fragmented landholdings, price volatility and weak bargaining power constrain profitability.
- The objective of doubling farmers’ real incomes remains unfulfilled.
- Agricultural GDP growth does not automatically translate into higher real incomes for every farming household.
- Weak Agricultural Value Chains: Fruits, vegetables, milk and fish are perishable commodities.
- Inadequate cold storage, processing and market connectivity reduce farmers’ returns.
- Climate change, extreme weather and declining soil health further threaten agricultural productivity.
Case Study: Gujarat’s Agricultural Transformation (2001-2014)
- Gujarat reportedly achieved agricultural growth exceeding 9% annually.
- Key factors behind the transformation included:
- Water Management: Check dams and improved access to Narmada waters expanded irrigation opportunities.
- Reliable Electricity: Separation of agricultural and domestic electricity feeders improved power supply management.
- Rural Connectivity: Better roads strengthened links between farms and markets.
- Agricultural Extension: Krishi Mahotsav connected farmers with government officials, agricultural experts and modern technologies.
- Technology Adoption: Bt cotton, approved for commercial cultivation in India in 2002, contributed to Gujarat’s cotton-sector expansion.
- Lessons For India: Coordinated investment in irrigation, electricity, roads, technology and agricultural extension can accelerate growth.
- However, policies need to reflect regional conditions and ecological limits.
Way Forward: Building a Sustainable Agricultural Economy
- Incentivise Crop Diversification: Improve the relative profitability of pulses and oilseeds through suitable price support, procurement and targeted incentives.
- Consider redirecting inefficient input subsidies towards farmers who adopt less water-intensive crops.
- Pilot such incentives in water-stressed regions, including Haryana and Punjab, with measurable groundwater conservation targets.
- Promote Agri-Photovoltaics: Agri-photovoltaics, or agrivoltaics combines crop cultivation with solar power generation using suitably elevated and spaced solar panels.
- Adapt PM-KUSUM to support viable agrivoltaic projects through suitable subsidies and remunerative power-purchase arrangements.
- It can enable farmers to become both Annadatas and Urjadatas.
- Strengthen High-Value Agriculture: Expand dairy, fisheries, poultry, horticulture and food processing.
- Improve cold chains, storage, farmer-producer organisations and access to export markets.
- Strengthen agricultural research, digital extension and institutional credit.
- Promote Climate-Resilient Farming: Expand micro-irrigation, rainwater harvesting and watershed development.
- Encourage soil conservation, climate-resilient crop varieties and efficient water use.
- Link agricultural incentives with measurable improvements in resource conservation.
Conclusion
- India needs to move beyond cereal self-sufficiency towards higher farmers’ incomes, nutritional security and ecological sustainability.
- Crop diversification, stronger value chains and renewable energy can make agriculture more profitable and resilient, supporting the broader vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
| Daily Mains Practice Question [Q] Discuss the major challenges facing Indian agriculture and suggest measures to achieve higher farmers’ incomes while ensuring environmental sustainability. |
