How India can Become an Agricultural Powerhouse: $600 B Output by 2030

India can become an agricultural powerhouse by unlocking growth and productivity for the sector. The key to expanding India’s transformation into a farming powerhouse is agricultural technology, or agtech. By 2030, agriculture could contribute around $600 billion to India’s GDP—an increase of 50 percent over its contribution in 2020.

Agtech can be a shot in the arm for India’s farmers, making them more profitable and boosting the contribution of agriculture to India’s economy.

India is already a global agricultural powerhouse in the making. It is the world’s largest producer of milk, pulses, and spices, and has the world’s largest cattle herd (buffaloes), as well as the largest area under wheat, rice and cotton. It is the second largest producer of rice, wheat, cotton, sugarcane, farmed fish, sheep & goat meat, fruits, vegetables and tea. The country has some 195 million hectares under cultivation of which some 63 percent are rainfed (roughly 125m ha) while 37 percent are irrigated (70m ha). In addition, forests cover some 65m ha of India’s land.

India is an agrarian economy, with agriculture being the primary source of livelihood for about 61.5% of its population. According to a 2011 Agricultural Census of India, an estimated 61.5% of the 1300 million Indian population is rural and dependent on agriculture. The number of farming households is 159.6 million. However, the income of farmers has been a cause of concern for policymakers, with many farmers struggling to make ends meet. In this article, we will discuss some ways to increase farm incomes in India.

One way to increase farm incomes is by providing high-yielding crops and cash crops suitable for the Indian climate. This can be achieved through research and development of new crop varieties that are resistant to pests and diseases, and can thrive in the diverse climatic conditions of India. The government can also promote the cultivation of cash crops such as spices, fruits, and vegetables, which have a higher market value than traditional food crops.

Agricultural land reforms can also play a crucial role in increasing farm incomes. Land reforms can help to redistribute land from large landowners to small and marginal farmers, giving them greater access to land and resources. This can help to increase their productivity and income. The government can also implement policies to provide secure land tenure to farmers, which can encourage them to invest in their land and improve their productivity.

The government can also implement a minimum support price (MSP) for agricultural produce. MSP is a price set by the government to purchase crops from farmers at a guaranteed price, regardless of market fluctuations. This can help to protect farmers from price volatility and ensure that they receive a fair price for their produce.

Innovative harvesting processes can also help to increase farm incomes. For example, the use of modern harvesting equipment can help to reduce wastage and improve efficiency. The government can provide subsidies or low-interest loans to farmers to help them purchase such equipment.

The number and capacity of cold storages in India is another factor that can impact farm incomes. Cold storages are essential for preserving perishable produce such as fruits and vegetables. The government can invest in building more cold storages across the country, particularly in rural areas where farmers have limited access to such facilities.

Minimising wastage during transportation is another way to increase farm incomes. The government can invest in improving transportation infrastructure such as roads and railways, which can help to reduce wastage during transportation. The use of refrigerated trucks or containers can also help to preserve perishable produce during transportation.

Improvements in irrigation and fertilizers, including the use of biomass, can also help to increase farm incomes. The government can invest in building new irrigation systems or improving existing ones, which can help to improve water availability for crops. The use of organic fertilizers such as biomass can also help to improve soil fertility and reduce the dependence on chemical fertilizers.

Crop insurance can help farmers in many ways. It protects farmers against the loss of crops due to natural disasters, extreme weather, or revenue loss owing to price fluctuations in the agricultural market. Crop insurance can also provide income stability, help farmers repay their loans even during crop failure, and support technological advancement and new agricultural practices.

Finally, finding ways to provide fresh vegetables and horticultural produce directly to the end consumer can also help to increase farm incomes. This can be achieved through initiatives such as farmer’s markets or community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs, where consumers can purchase fresh produce directly from farmers.

In conclusion, there are many ways to increase farm incomes in India. These include providing high yielding crops and cash crops suitable for the Indian climate, implementing agricultural land reforms, setting a minimum support price for agricultural produce, using innovative harvesting processes, increasing the number and capacity of cold storages, minimising wastage during transportation, improving irrigation and fertilizers including biomass, and finding ways to provide fresh vegetables and horticultural produce directly to the end consumer. By implementing these measures, the government can help to improve the livelihoods of farmers in India.