Transforming Indian Agriculture for a Developed Bharat by 2047 Introduction 

• Agriculture plays a pivotal role in India’s economy, directly supporting millions of rural livelihoods. However, the sector faces the dual challenge of ensuring food security while fostering sustainable rural livelihoods, all while embracing modern techniques. 
• Despite the substantial strides made in agricultural productivity, much of the sector remains traditional, with limited technological integration.
• To realize the vision of a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) by 2047, a holistic and inclusive approach is essential.
•  The transformation of agriculture must focus on modernizing various components, including inputs, production, post-production, and cross-cutting interventions. 
• By tackling these areas comprehensively, India can build a resilient, efficient, and sustainable agricultural system that ensures food security, uplifts rural incomes, and positions the country as a global leader in agriculture.

Key Pillars for Agricultural Development in India

• Modernizing Agricultural Inputs:
  • Land Reforms and Digitization: Land reforms are essential for equitable resource access. Digitizing land records, such as through Telangana’s Dharani portal, has helped simplify land transactions, reduce disputes, and ensure transparency. The PM SWAMITVA Yojana, which focuses on property rights for rural citizens, has provided over 1.2 crore property cards to village residents, empowering them to access credit and modernize farming practices. This initiative has been rolled out across 763,000 villages in India.

• Climate-Smart Water Management: Water scarcity remains a critical challenge in India, especially in states like Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Micro-irrigation technologies, such as drip irrigation and sprinkler systems, have shown tremendous promise in improving water-use efficiency. Under the PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, over 2.5 million hectares have been brought under micro-irrigation, benefiting water-scarce regions. Additionally, the development of flood-tolerant rice varieties like “Swarna Sub1” has been instrumental in reducing crop losses in flood-prone areas such as Assam, where flooding regularly affects over 3 million hectares of farmland.

• Access to High-Quality Seeds: High-quality seeds are crucial to increasing agricultural productivity. India’s success with BT cotton, which has been adopted widely in states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh, led to a 24% increase in cotton yields. Similarly, hybrid seeds such as DMH-11 Mustard and IMH 223-ICAR corn hold potential for increasing yields in various agro-climatic zones across India. These seeds are more resilient to pests, droughts, and other environmental stresses, offering solutions to the country’s agricultural challenges.
• Sustainable Fertilizer and Pesticide Use: The excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has long harmed India’s agricultural environment. The introduction of Nano-Urea by IFFCO has significantly reduced fertilizer usage and improved nutrient efficiency. In field trials, Nano-Urea has shown a 30% reduction in urea consumption while maintaining or improving crop yields. The use of neem-coated urea has also been adopted in regions like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, providing an eco-friendly alternative to traditional pesticides, reducing reliance on harmful chemicals.
• Farm Mechanization: Mechanization is essential for improving productivity and reducing labor dependency. Mechanized tools like combine harvesters and rice transplanters have already been adopted in Punjab, which is one of India’s most mechanized states, where labor shortages are prevalent. In 2021, Punjab had 3,500 combine harvesters, up from 1,000 in 2010, with the number expected to rise as adoption spreads to smaller farmers. The FAAS (Farming as a Service) model, which provides machinery to farmers on a rental basis, has been successfully piloted in states like Haryana, helping small farmers increase productivity while minimizing upfront costs. 
• Financial Inclusion and Credit Access: Financial inclusion in agriculture is essential for growth. The expansion of the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme, which now includes tenant farmers, has made a significant impact. In 2020-21, 12 crore farmers were provided with KCC loans, a 15% increase from the previous year, enabling them to access low-interest loans for farming inputs. Agrifintech platforms such as YONO Krishi are also enabling farmers to access digital credit facilities, streamlining the credit process and offering quicker solutions than traditional banking channels. 

• Robotics and Automation: Robotics and automation can revolutionize small-scale farming. In India, low-cost robotic solutions such as drones and automated seeders are already being tested under the MAAS (Machinery as a Service) model in states like Uttar Pradesh. A pilot study conducted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) revealed that drone-powered sprayers resulted in a 25% reduction in pesticide usage while improving crop yields. This technology allows farmers to improve productivity without a significant upfront investment. 

• Modernizing Agricultural Production: 
  • Precision Farming with Technology: Precision farming uses AI, IoT, and satellite technologies to enhance farming practices. In Telangana, the T-Fiber project is helping farmers by providing IoT devices to monitor crop health in real-time. This initiative has helped increase crop yields by up to 20% and reduced water wastage by 40% in pilot regions. The integration of AI and satellite technology in precision farming allows farmers to make data-driven decisions, optimizing irrigation schedules, pest control, and fertilization. 
  • Integrated Pest Management (IPM): IPM combines biological, mechanical, and chemical methods for sustainable pest control. In Maharashtra, the use of neem-coated urea as part of an integrated pest management strategy has resulted in a 30% reduction in the use of chemical pesticides, while significantly reducing pest infestations. The use of bio-fertilizers and biological pest control agents has proven successful in states like Andhra Pradesh, reducing reliance on harmful chemical inputs while maintaining high crop yields. 
  • Mechanized Harvesting Tools: Mechanized harvesting tools are essential for improving productivity. Combine harvesters and rice transplanters are already being adopted in Punjab, with the number of combine harvesters increasing by 20% over the last decade. These tools reduce labor costs, improve harvesting efficiency, and increase yield. Studies show that mechanized harvesting has led to a 15-20% increase in rice yields in Punjab, while reducing post-harvest losses by 10%. 
  • Government Schemes for Sustainability: Government initiatives such as the PM-PRANAM scheme incentivize the use of organic fertilizers by providing states with 50% of the subsidy savings on fertilizers. Additionally, the Mission Amrit Sarovar aims to rejuvenate 75 water bodies in each district, focusing on improving water storage and irrigation infrastructure. As of 2022, over 1,000 water bodies have been revitalized under this initiative, benefiting farmers by ensuring better water availability, especially in dry regions like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. 

• Modernizing Agricultural Processes:
  • Digital Twin Technology: Digital Twin technology, which simulates crop growth and weather conditions, is transforming agricultural research. This technology has already been implemented in collaboration with AgTech companies like CropIn, enabling farmers to forecast yields and predict challenges without relying on lengthy field trials. This technology is helping to accelerate the development of new crop varieties that are more resilient to climate change.
  • Farmers’ Training and Skill Development: The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) network plays an essential role in farmer education. In 2020, over 1.5 million farmers received training through KVKs, helping them adopt modern techniques like hydroponics, vertical farming, and organic farming practices.  Andhra Pradesh’s adoption of Zero Budget Natural Farming program has already transitioned 6 million farmers to chemical-free farming, resulting in higher soil fertility and improved yields.
  • Sustainable Farming Practices: India is seeing significant progress in organic farming. The ZBNF program in Andhra Pradesh, covering 6 million farmers, focuses on zero-cost farming and has helped increase yields by 20-30% while significantly reducing input costs. Other states such as Odisha and Chhattisgarh are following suit, adopting regenerative agriculture practices like crop rotation and organic farming, ensuring long-term sustainability.  

• Technology and Data Integration: Platforms like e-NAM enable farmers to directly access markets, improving price transparency and ensuring fair prices. The use of e-NAM has led to higher farmer incomes in states like Rajasthan, where farmers have reported a 15-20% increase in their earnings due to better market access and reduced role of intermediaries.

• Government Digital Initiatives: Expanding the Digital Agriculture Mission and strengthening digital platforms like the Digital India Mission for AgriTech will help bridge the technological gap in rural India. The establishment of PM-Kisan Samriddhi Kendras is an example of the government’s efforts to create digital hubs for farmers, providing them with advisory services, access to modern technologies, and training. The Kisan Sarathi, an Information Communication and Technology (ICT) based interface solution, aims to provide multilingual support to farmers in seeking the advisories in the domains of agriculture, horticulture, fishery and animal husbandry, through a multi-lingual & multi-media ICT platform “Agriculture Advisory Management System (AAMS)”.

• Post-Production Optimization:
  • Logistics and Supply Chain Efficiency: Efficient post-production systems are critical for reducing food wastage and ensuring market accessibility. The government has launched Mega Food Parks and cold storage initiatives to help preserve perishable goods. The Mega Food Park in Gujarat, for instance, supports the storage and processing of fruits and vegetables, reducing losses by up to 30% and helping connect farmers with markets more efficiently. To improve storage facilities, the government is implementing the Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI) scheme. This scheme provides assistance for the construction or renovation of godowns and warehouses in rural areas to boost agricultural storage capacity. Under the AMI scheme, subsidies of 25% and 33.33% are offered on the capital costs of projects, depending on the beneficiary category.
  • Strengthening Market Linkages: Strengthening market linkages through e-NAM ensures that farmers can access better prices for their produce. In Rajasthan, where e-NAM has been implemented widely, farmers have seen a 25% increase in earnings due to improved market linkages and transparent pricing.
  • Agro-Processing and Export Promotion: Expanding agro-processing industries and export zones for high-value crops, such as fruits and spices, is vital for enhancing India’s global agricultural standing. Programs like Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) have successfully helped export mangoes to the Middle East, increasing the global presence of Indian agriculture and providing farmers with new income streams.
  • Blockchain for Transparency: Blockchain technology has the potential to enhance transparency in agricultural supply chains. In Karnataka, blockchain is being piloted in coffee production to ensure traceability and fair pricing. This initiative guarantees that farmers receive appropriate compensation for their efforts, providing a model for transparency across the agricultural supply chain.
• Cross-Cutting Interventions:
  • Reform of MSP and Market-Based Pricing: The Minimum Support Price (MSP) system needs to be reformed to move toward market-based pricing. Madhya Pradesh has started experimenting with market-driven models for wheat, improving price discovery and ensuring that farmers are not left at the mercy of government-mandated prices.
  • Welfare vs. Populism: While welfare schemes for farmers are essential, they should focus on empowerment rather than creating dependency. Programs that focus on rural infrastructure, education, and agricultural research will help farmers transition to self-sufficiency, reducing their reliance on short-term welfare.
  • Investment in Research and Development: India must prioritize investment in R&D to develop drought-resistant seeds, AI-based crop management systems, and other innovative farming techniques. Public-private collaborations, like those between ICAR and private AgTech companies, can foster innovation that will drive the future of Indian agriculture.