Hindu Editorial Analysis : 22-January-2025
India is at a critical point in its journey toward modernizing its agricultural sector. The goal is to create a developed (Viksit) Agri Economy by 2047 that ensures food security, improves rural livelihoods, promotes sustainability, and embraces modern technology. However, several challenges must be addressed to achieve this vision.
Key Hurdles in Agricultural Development
Small and Fragmented Landholdings
- 86% of farmers in India own less than two hectares of land, which limits their ability to implement large-scale farming techniques.
- This fragmentation makes mechanization difficult, preventing farmers from gaining efficiency in their operations.
Climate Change and Water Scarcity
- Changing weather patterns, such as erratic monsoons and rising temperatures, are affecting crop yields and income stability.
- Regions like Punjab and Haryana face severe groundwater depletion, impacting agriculture. The over-dependence on monsoons makes farming highly vulnerable to droughts.
Market Inefficiencies
- Farmers often struggle to access well-developed markets and receive fair prices for their produce.
- Middlemen in the supply chain often exploit farmers, resulting in price fluctuations and inefficiencies.
Post-Harvest Losses
- Poor infrastructure in storage and transportation leads to significant food losses, with an estimated 74 million tonnes lost annually.
Limited Access to Credit and Technology
- Small farmers find it difficult to access affordable credit, crop insurance, and modern technology, which restricts their capacity to invest in farming innovations.
Vision for a Viksit Agri Economy by 2047
Technological Integration
- Embrace technologies like AI, IoT, and big data for precision farming to optimize resources and improve productivity.
- Expand the use of satellite-based weather forecasting, drones for crop monitoring, and vernacular AI platforms to make these technologies accessible to all.
Regenerative Farming Practices
- Promote organic and zero-budget natural farming to restore soil health and reduce dependency on chemicals.
- Create policies to support regenerative farming practices, including private-sector research and development.
Automation and Robotics
- Develop low-cost robotic solutions tailored to small farms to improve efficiency.
- Establish AgTech hubs and encourage public-private partnerships to scale automation technologies.
Supply Chain Infrastructure
- Invest in better cold storage, transportation, rural connectivity, and irrigation systems to reduce post-harvest losses and ensure fair pricing.
- Expand rural electrification and market linkages to improve farmers’ access to markets.
Empowering Farmers
- Strengthen Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) to improve farmers’ bargaining power and access to resources.
- Improve access to credit, crop insurance, and digital literacy programs to enable smallholders to adopt modern farming practices.
Policy Reforms
Digital Agriculture Mission
- Develop digital infrastructure and implement digital crop estimation surveys to support data-driven decision-making in agriculture.
National Mission on Natural Farming
- Promote chemical-free farming practices to improve long-term soil health and sustainability.
E-Marketplace Initiatives
- Expand the National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) to provide transparent bidding systems and fair pricing for farmers.
Complementary Programs
- Strengthen rural welfare schemes such as PMAY, NREGA, and NFSA to support the agricultural workforce.
Why In News
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 the adoption of several modern technology innovations. To achieve this, it must address systemic challenges such as small landholdings, climate change, and market inefficiencies, while empowering farmers and fostering public-private collaborations.
MCQs about Building a Viksit Agri Economy in India by 2047
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What is one of the key hurdles in building a Viksit Agri Economy in India?
A. High mechanization across all farms
B. Small and fragmented landholdings
C. Overproduction of crops
D. Excessive use of modern technology
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What technological innovation is recommended to enhance farming practices in India?
A. Use of manual labor
B. Precision farming using AI, IoT, and big data
C. Increasing chemical fertilizers
D. Expanding reliance on monsoon-dependent crops
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What is the main goal of promoting regenerative farming practices in India?
A. Increase dependency on chemical fertilizers
B. Restore soil health and reduce chemical usage
C. Maximize water usage in all farming regions
D. Expand urban farming practices
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What policy initiative aims to improve farmers’ access to markets and ensure fair pricing?
A. National Mission on Natural Farming
B. Digital Agriculture Mission
C. E-Marketplace Initiatives (e-NAM)
D. National Regenerative Farming Policy
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