{"id":35952,"date":"2025-01-22T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-22T13:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=35952"},"modified":"2025-01-22T19:12:29","modified_gmt":"2025-01-22T13:42:29","slug":"india-journey-viksit-agri-economy-2047","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/22-01-2025\/india-journey-viksit-agri-economy-2047","title":{"rendered":"India\u2019s Journey Toward a Viksit Agri Economy by 2047"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Economy; Agriculture<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India stands at a critical juncture in modernizing its agricultural practices, and it needs to focus on key imperatives to build a <strong>Viksit (developed) Agri Economy by 2047,<\/strong> focusing on food security, rural livelihoods, sustainability and adoption of several modern technology innovations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Current State of India&#8217;s Agri Economy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Workforce: <\/strong>About <strong>55%<\/strong> of India\u2019s Population;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Gross Value Added (GVA)<\/strong>: <strong>17.7%<\/strong> (at current prices in FY 2023-24);\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is expected that agriculture&#8217;s share in <strong>GDP might shrink to 7% &#8211; 8% and <\/strong>employ over <strong>30% of the workforce <\/strong>by 2047<strong>.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"ecefe8\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"456\" height=\"430\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/01\/agriculture-and-farmer-welfare.webp\" alt=\"agriculture-and-farmer-welfare\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-35954\" style=\"--dominant-color: #ecefe8; width:360px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/01\/agriculture-and-farmer-welfare.webp 456w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/01\/agriculture-and-farmer-welfare-300x283.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 456px) 100vw, 456px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Agricultural Land: 54.8% of the India\u2019s Total Land <\/strong>(328.7 million hectares);\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Arable Land:<\/strong> 180 million hectares (largest in the world);<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cropping Intensity: 155.4%<\/strong> (as per the Land Use Statistics for 2021-22);<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Global Dominance:<\/strong> India is the world&#8217;s largest producer of milk, pulses, and spices.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India is the second-largest producer of fruits, vegetables, tea, farmed fish, sugarcane, wheat, rice, cotton, and sugar.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Agricultural Exports:<\/strong> INR 4.2 Lakh Cr in FY23;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Hurdles in Building a Viksit Agri Economy by 2047<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Small and Fragmented Landholdings:<\/strong> 86% of farmers own less than two hectares, limiting economies of scale and mechanization.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Climate Change: <\/strong>Erratic monsoons, rising temperatures, and extreme weather events disrupt crop yields and income stability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Water Scarcity: <\/strong>Over-reliance on groundwater has led to depletion in critical regions like Punjab and Haryana.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dependence on monsoons makes agriculture vulnerable to droughts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Market Inefficiencies: <\/strong>Farmers face challenges in accessing well-developed markets and fair pricing.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Complex supply chains and middlemen contribute to price exploitation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Post-Harvest Losses: <\/strong>Poor storage and transportation infrastructure lead to an estimated 74 million tonnes of annual food loss.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Limited Access to Credit: <\/strong>Small and marginal farmers struggle to access affordable credit and crop insurance, restricting their ability to invest in modern inputs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Soil Degradation:<\/strong> Overuse of chemical fertilizers has degraded soil fertility and increased vulnerability to pests and diseases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Vision For Viksit Agri Economy by 2047<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Technological Integration<\/strong>: Leverage <strong>AI<\/strong>, <strong>IoT<\/strong>, and <strong>big data<\/strong> for precision farming.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Expand access to <strong>satellite-based weather forecasting<\/strong>, pest management, and <strong>drones<\/strong> for crop monitoring.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Develop <strong>vernacular AI platforms<\/strong> for accessibility.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Regenerative Farming Practices<\/strong>: Promote <strong>organic<\/strong> and <strong>zero-budget natural farming<\/strong> to restore soil health.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Introduce a <strong>national regenerative farming policy<\/strong> and encourage private-sector R&amp;D.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Robotics and Automation<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Develop <strong>low-cost robotic solutions<\/strong> tailored to small farms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Establish <strong>AgTech hubs<\/strong> and promote public-private partnerships for scaling automation technologies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Alternative Protein Market<\/strong>: Collaborate with global leaders to improve production and awareness of <strong>lab-grown proteins<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Supply Chain Infrastructure<\/strong>: Invest in <strong>cold storage<\/strong>, transportation, rural connectivity, and irrigation.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Expand rural electrification and market linkages to reduce losses and ensure fair pricing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Empowering Farmers<\/strong>: Strengthen <strong>Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)<\/strong> to enhance bargaining power.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Improve access to <strong>credit<\/strong>, <strong>insurance<\/strong>, and <strong>digital literacy<\/strong> programs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Equip smallholders with modern farming practices and training.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sustainability<\/strong>: Promote <strong>micro-irrigation techniques<\/strong> like drip and sprinkler systems.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Adopt climate-resilient crops and diversified cropping patterns.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)<\/strong>: Collaborate with private companies and research institutions to drive <strong>innovation and investment<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Policy Reforms<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Digital Agriculture Mission: <\/strong>Develop digital public infrastructure, implement the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES), and promote IT-based solutions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>National Mission on Natural Farming:<\/strong> Focus on chemical-free, natural farming practices.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>E-Marketplace Initiatives:<\/strong> Expand the National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) for transparent bidding systems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Complementary Programs: <\/strong>Strengthen rural welfare schemes like PMAY, NREGA, and NFSA to support the agricultural workforce.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion and Way Forward<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India, a land of diverse <strong>agro-climatic zones,<\/strong> is intrinsically tied to its agricultural roots.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As the nation approaches its centenary of independence in 2047, agriculture remains both a cornerstone of its economy and a key to its future.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The journey toward a resilient, sustainable, and prosperous agricultural sector is pivotal for addressing challenges like food security, rural employment, and climate change.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improving market access, enhancing infrastructure, promoting sustainable farming practices, and providing financial support to small farmers are essential steps towards overcoming these hurdles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The future of India&#8217;s agri economy looks promising, with a focus on technological innovation, policy reforms, and grassroots engagement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Daily Mains Practice Question<\/strong><br><strong>[Q] <\/strong>Analyze the key imperatives for India to achieve a &#8216;Viksit Agri Economy&#8217; by 2047. Discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with each imperative. Conclude by outlining a roadmap for successful implementation.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/opinion\/columns\/7-imperatives-to-build-a-viksit-agri-economy-by-2047-9789865\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Source: IE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/UPSC-Editorial-Analysis-22-January-2025-PDF-1.pdf\">Download PDF<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>India stands at a critical juncture in modernizing its agricultural practices, and it needs to focus on key imperatives to build a Viksit (developed) Agri Economy by 2047, focusing on food security, rural livelihoods, sustainability and adoption of several modern technology innovations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35952","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-editorial-analysis"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35952","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35952"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35952\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35963,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35952\/revisions\/35963"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35952"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35952"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35952"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}