At the Annual Conference of Vice-Chancellors of Agricultural Universities and Directors of ICAR Institutes, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan laid out a clear roadmap for the future of Indian agriculture. Speaking at a press conference, he highlighted that agricultural education, research, and extension are the foundational pillars necessary for ensuring increased productivity and reduced input costs.
He called for unified efforts by all agricultural institutions to work cohesively towards shared goals, reiterating that maintaining a 5% growth rate in agriculture is crucial for achieving a developed India by 2047.
The Minister emphasized that agriculture remains the backbone of the Indian economy, employing nearly half of the country’s population and contributing 18% to the national GDP. Stressing its central role in India’s growth story, he noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a “Viksit Bharat” is deeply tied to the prosperity of agriculture and farmers.
The conference discussions, he said, focused on making agriculture more developed and farmer-centric, with strong collaboration between agricultural universities, ICAR’s 113 institutes, 731 Krishi Vigyan Kendras, and state agricultural departments under the unifying theme of "One Nation – One Agriculture – One Team."
Chouhan expressed confidence that the target of maintaining a 5% growth rate in agriculture is not only realistic but also achievable. However, he acknowledged certain challenges, such as the low growth rate of 1.5% in pulses and oilseeds and the wide disparity in productivity across different states.
For instance, maize yields are higher in Tamil Nadu but low in Uttar Pradesh. Addressing such imbalances, he said, will require clearly defined roles and coordinated efforts from all agricultural stakeholders.
He also spoke about India’s aspiration to become a $5 trillion economy, stressing that agriculture must contribute $1 trillion to this goal. To realize this, agriculture exports need to increase from the current 6% to at least 20%.
Chouhan emphasized the use of modern technologies and the need to bridge the gap between laboratory research and its practical application on farms, ensuring that innovations reach and benefit farmers directly.
Given the continuous decline in landholding sizes, which are projected to nk to an average of 0.6 hectares by 2047, the Minister emphasized the importance of diversification. He called for a greater focus on allied activities such as beekeeping, fisheries, animal husbandry, and horticulture to supplement incomes and secure livelihoods.
He also thanked Prime Minister Modi for allocating budget funds for establishing a new gene bank and highlighted recent achievements in genome editing, including the development of two new rice varieties. Similar advancements, he said, are underway in soybeans, pulses, black gram, chickpeas, and pigeon peas to boost yields and productivity.
Agriculture Minister concluded by stating that time-bound goals are being set both for the short and long term, with focused discussions underway on improving water efficiency, enhancing crop yields, and ensuring the overall prosperity of farmers.
