India’s agricultural sector, a cornerstone of its economy and livelihood for millions, faces a myriad of challenges that impede its growth and sustainability. Addressing these challenges is imperative to enhance agricultural performance, ensuring food security, economic stability, and rural development. Key imperatives include adopting modern agricultural practices, improving irrigation infrastructure, fostering research and development, and ensuring better market access for farmers. With a strategic focus on these areas, India can boost productivity, resilience, and profitability in agriculture, paving the way for a more robust and sustainable future for its agrarian community.
Tags: GS-3 , Indian economy- growth & Development- Agriculture
Context:
- Despite its large land area, India’s agricultural sector faces productivity and competitiveness challenges. Though foodgrain production hit record levels in 2023, the sector’s GDP contribution has declined compared to other sectors, reflecting slower development.
Decline in Agriculture’s GDP Share:
- The share of agriculture in India’s GDP dropped notably from 35% in 1990-91 to 15% in 2022-23, indicating the swift expansion of the industrial and service sectors.
- Despite various challenges, India witnessed a record-breaking foodgrain production of 3.2 billion tonnes in 2023, marking a substantial increase of 140.71 million tonnes from the previous fiscal year.
- With a population exceeding 1.40 billion, ensuring food security remains a pressing concern, necessitating continual innovation and advancement in the agricultural sector.
Key Challenges:
- Limited Availability of Advanced Crop Nutrition: Regulatory constraints and licensing hurdles in India hinder access to tailored crop nutrition, impeding the adoption of innovative fertilisers that could enhance productivity.
- Subsidised vs. Specialty Fertilisers: Bulk fertilisers, heavily subsidised, often fail to meet the specific nutritional needs of crops, while specialty fertilisers encounter regulatory barriers that restrict their market entry.
- Innovation and Efficiency Gap: The reluctance to adopt innovative agricultural practices and fertilisers limits the potential for higher yields and competitiveness in global trade.
- Subpar Yields: Inadequate access to advanced fertilisers and regulatory constraints contribute to lower crop yields, adversely impacting farmer incomes and export potential.
- Stringent Regulatory Process: India’s Fertilizer Control Order (FCO) prolongs the fertiliser registration process, creating hurdles for innovation and the introduction of new products.
Government Reforms and Initiatives:
- National Trade Facilitation Action Plan (NTFAP) 2017-2020: This initiative, primarily targeting cross-border trade, indirectly enhances agricultural efficiency by improving import/export procedures for agricultural inputs and products.
- 2014 Guidelines for Water-Soluble Fertilisers: Demonstrating the government’s commitment to streamline regulations and foster innovation in the fertiliser sector, these guidelines reduced approval times for new water-soluble fertilisers to under 60 days, promoting increased fertigation and improved crop quality.
- Digital Registration Processes: The digitization of fertiliser registration applications aims to simplify procedures and expedite approvals, facilitating the introduction of innovative products.
Way Forward:
- Micro-nutrient Coated Fertilisers: Enhancing bulk fertilisers with micronutrients can improve efficiency and reduce reliance on subsidies.
- Streamlined Regulatory Framework: Implementing standardised specifications for fertilisers can expedite approval processes for innovative products.
- Investment in Research and Development: Allocating resources to develop customised fertiliser formulations for Indian soil and crop requirements will drive innovation.
Conclusion:
Hence, streamlining the fertiliser registration process and fostering innovation are pivotal for boosting agricultural productivity, empowering farmers, and fostering sustainable growth in the sector. Through regulatory reforms, research incentives, and digital integration, India can unleash its agricultural potential and enhance competitiveness on the global stage.
| UPSC Civil Services Examination PYQ Mains: Q:1 What is an Integrated Farming System? How is it helpful to small and marginal farmers in India? (2022) Q:2 What are the present challenges before crop diversification? How do emerging technologies provide an opportunity for crop diversification?(2021) Q:3 What are the major factors responsible for making the rice-wheat system a success? In spite of this success how has this system become bane in India?(2020) Q:4 How has the emphasis on certain crops brought about changes in cropping patterns in the recent past? Elaborate the emphasis on millets production and consumption. (2018) Q:5 How do subsidies affect the cropping pattern, crop diversity and economy of farmers? What is the significance of crop insurance, minimum support price and food processing for small and marginal farmers? (2017) Q:6 Explain various types of revolutions, took place in Agriculture after Independence in India. How have these revolutions helped in poverty alleviation and food security in India? (2017)Q:7 What are the major reasons for declining rice and wheat yield in the cropping system? How crop diversification is helpful to stabilise the yield of the crops in the system? (2017) |
Source: TH
FAQs
FAQ 1: What are the key challenges facing Indian agriculture today?
Answer: Indian agriculture faces several key challenges, including:
- Fragmented Land Holdings: Small and fragmented landholdings reduce efficiency and increase production costs.
- Low Productivity: Despite being a significant global producer, India’s crop yields are often lower than those of other countries.
- Inadequate Irrigation: Dependence on monsoon rains makes agriculture vulnerable to climate variability.
- Market Inefficiencies: Lack of infrastructure, storage facilities, and proper market linkages hampers farmers’ income.
- Limited Access to Technology: Slow adoption of modern agricultural practices and technologies.
- Financial Constraints: Farmers often lack access to adequate credit and insurance.
FAQ 2: How can technology enhance agricultural performance in India?
Answer: Technology can significantly enhance agricultural performance in several ways:
- Precision Farming: Use of GPS, IoT, and data analytics to optimize field-level management.
- Advanced Irrigation Techniques: Drip and sprinkler irrigation systems improve water use efficiency.
- High-Yield Varieties: Genetically improved seeds increase crop productivity and resistance to pests and diseases.
- Digital Platforms: Mobile apps and online platforms provide farmers with real-time information on weather, prices, and best practices.
- Mechanization: Adoption of modern machinery reduces labor costs and increases efficiency.
FAQ 3: What policy measures can the government take to improve agricultural productivity?
Answer: The government can implement several policy measures to boost agricultural productivity:
- Land Reforms: Consolidation of landholdings to create more economically viable farming units.
- Investment in Infrastructure: Enhancing rural infrastructure like roads, warehouses, and cold storage facilities.
- Research and Development: Increased funding for agricultural research to develop high-yield and climate-resilient crops.
- Subsidies and Incentives: Providing subsidies for inputs like fertilizers, seeds, and irrigation equipment.
- Market Reforms: Strengthening market linkages, removing middlemen, and promoting direct farmer-to-consumer sales through digital platforms.
FAQ 4: What role do farmer-producer organizations (FPOs) play in enhancing agricultural performance?
Answer: Farmer-Producer Organizations (FPOs) play a crucial role in enhancing agricultural performance by:
- Collective Bargaining: Enabling farmers to pool resources and negotiate better prices for inputs and outputs.
- Access to Credit: Facilitating easier access to institutional credit by reducing the risk for lenders.
- Knowledge Sharing: Providing training and extension services to improve farming practices.
- Market Access: Helping farmers to directly access larger and more lucrative markets, both domestic and international.
- Value Addition: Encouraging post-harvest processing and value addition to agricultural products, increasing farmers’ income.
FAQ 5: How can sustainable agricultural practices contribute to long-term agricultural performance in India?
Answer: Sustainable agricultural practices can significantly contribute to long-term agricultural performance by:
- Soil Health: Practices like crop rotation, organic farming, and reduced tillage improve soil fertility and structure.
- Water Management: Efficient water use through rainwater harvesting, conservation agriculture, and sustainable irrigation practices ensures water availability.
- Biodiversity: Maintaining crop diversity reduces dependency on a single crop and enhances ecosystem resilience.
- Climate Adaptation: Implementing climate-smart practices helps mitigate the impacts of climate change.
- Resource Efficiency: Reducing reliance on chemical inputs through integrated pest management and nutrient management improves environmental health and reduces costs.
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