Cultivating Prosperity: The Amrit Kaal Journey Of Indian Agriculture Through Innovation, Empowerment

In 2014, when the BJP government was formed in the Centre under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, farmers in the country were already fighting for their basic demands of better farm produce prices, the non-availability of fertilisers and good seeds, issues of non-payment of procured produce, and a lack of any transparent policy for the agriculture sector.

As soon as the Central Government was formed under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi ji, it immediately started working to identify and resolve problems and issues in the agriculture sector of the country at the policy level. The Modi government made farmers and agriculture its priority and started taking scientific and pragmatic steps towards solving issues in the sector. These multidimensional steps taken by the Modi government helped improve the situation of farmers in the country. 

Since 2014, Indian agriculture has witnessed a remarkable transformation, owing to the concerted efforts of PM Modi. India's agriculture sector has witnessed robust growth in recent years, contributing significantly to the country's overall development, food security, and economic prosperity. According to the Economic Survey 2022–23 presented by Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman ji, the sector has grown at an average annual rate of 4.6 per cent over the last six years. This remarkable growth can be attributed to a series of well-planned measures taken by the government to enhance crop and livestock productivity, ensure fair returns to farmers through the Minimum Support Price (MSP), promote crop diversification, and encourage sustainable practises like organic farming.

The discussion on the right price of farm produce for farmers has been going on for a very long time. The Swaminathan Commission, at the time of the UPA government, also made its recommendations in this regard, but then the Congress government was sitting all idle and quiet on this significant issue of the welfare of the farmers of our country. But the PM Modi-led pro-farmer government took progressive steps to implement this long-pending demand and took the decision to increase the MSP to 1.5 times more than the input cost. The Modi government proved that it will not leave anything for the betterment and welfare of the farmers by taking the decision to increase the minimum support price of Rabi and Kharif crops. The decision of the Modi government is helping farmers get almost 50% more profit on their produce. On crops like Bajra and Udad, this profit has increased in the range of 65% to 96%. 

In fact, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-Kisan Yojana) is the testimony of how 11.3 crore farmers received income support during the April–July 2022–23 cycle. Over the past three years, the scheme has provided more than ₹2 lakh crore in assistance to farmers, addressing liquidity constraints and meeting daily needs.

Through dedicated schemes like Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for the North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER), the Modi government has encouraged organic farming, benefiting thousands of farmers and promoting sustainable agriculture. 

The Government of India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi ji, has consistently shown its willingness to increase the budget allocation for the agriculture sector to strengthen the base of the agricultural system in the country and to bring it out of the poor state it has been suffering from for a long time. It is the result of PM Modi’s relentless efforts that the agriculture budget in the country has increased enormously in the last four and a half years. To decrease the dependency on agricultural imports in the country and to secure the interests of the farmers in the country, the recent government made major policy changes in favour of farmers. Import duty on wheat was increased to 20% and on tuar pulse to 10%. Import duties on some other agricultural producers were also implemented to make the country self-reliant and helpful for the farmers. Some quantitative limits were also set on some farm products.

Agriculture, the backbone of India's economy, has witnessed a remarkable transformation in recent years. The recent government's visionary initiatives and technological interventions have played a pivotal role in making the agriculture sector more profitable and sustainable. By embracing entrepreneurial skills and investing in cutting-edge technologies, the nation has achieved unprecedented levels of agricultural production and exports. As we progress into the future, a continued emphasis on youth empowerment, technology adoption, and inclusive policies will pave the way for a bright and prosperous era in Indian agriculture.

Dr. Anil AgrawalYouth Empowerment and its Impact

Recognising the potential of its young population, the PM Modi-led government has taken significant strides in empowering students and young farmers in the agricultural domain. Various educational and vocational programmes have been introduced to equip the youth with practical skills and knowledge in agribusiness, modern farming techniques, and market trends. Involving students and youth in these efforts has been a strategic move to empower the next generation of farmers and entrepreneurs. Highlighting the need to equip agricultural graduates with entrepreneurial skills, the government introduced the "Student Ready" programme. Additionally, the "Rural Awareness Works Experience (RAWE)" programme allows undergraduate students to support small and marginal farmers by providing technical know-how, market information, and assistance in improving livelihoods.

Sahil SharmaTechnology Adoption and the Agricultural Revolution

From precision farming and automated machinery to IoT devices and data-driven analytics, technology is reshaping every aspect of farming. With the aid of smart technologies, farmers can optimise resource usage, predict weather patterns, monitor crop health, and make informed decisions, leading to increased yields and sustainable farming practises. Notably, the adoption of mobile applications has bridged the gap between farmers and markets, empowering them with real-time information on crop prices, demand, and market trends. This has reduced dependency on intermediaries and improved farmers' bargaining power, leading to fairer prices for their produce.

The author, Dr. Anil Agrawal, is a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha

Co-author, Sahil Sharma, is a public policy consultant