PMF IAS Store Sale
PMF IAS General Science Book on Amazon

India’s Farm Sector & Associated Challenges

  • To effectively address the challenges facing Indian agriculture, a holistic approach is necessary, focusing on critical areas such as food security, climate resilience, rural employment, and infrastructure development. Each of these dimensions requires targeted interventions & reforms to ensure the long-term sustainability & growth of the agricultural sector. Below is a detailed discussion of these key aspects.

Challenges in Indian Agriculture

Food Security

  • Food security in India is a pressing issue given the country’s growing population, regional inequalities, and nutritional deficits. While India is self-sufficient in food grain production, challenges persist due to wastage, inefficiencies in supply chains, and lack of access to nutritious food.

Key Measures

  • Diversification of Crops: Encouraging farmers to shift from water-intensive crops like rice and wheat to more nutritious and climate-resilient options like millets, pulses, and oilseeds.
  • Post-Harvest Infrastructure: Developing robust storage facilities, cold chains, and food processing units to reduce wastage.
  • Public Distribution System (PDS) Reform: Improving the efficiency & transparency of PDS to ensure food reaches intended beneficiaries. Technology like Aadhaar-based tracking can enhance accountability.
  • Nutrition-Sensitive Policies: Expanding programs like mid-day meals and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) to provide balanced diets and combat malnutrition.

Climate Resilience

  • Indian agriculture is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its reliance on monsoons and traditional practices. Erratic weather patterns, droughts, floods, and soil degradation threaten productivity.

Key Measures

  • Promoting Climate-Resilient Crops: Developing and distributing drought-resistant and flood-tolerant crop varieties through agricultural research.
  • Sustainable Water Management: Adopting micro-irrigation techniques like drip and sprinkler irrigation to conserve water. Promoting rainwater harvesting and watershed management is also crucial.
  • Agroforestry and Soil Health: Integrating trees and vegetation into farming practices improves biodiversity and prevents soil erosion. Regular soil testing and balanced use of fertilizers can restore soil health.
  • Weather Forecasting and Early Warning Systems: Leveraging technology to provide real-time weather updates, allowing farmers to plan their activities better and mitigate risks.

Rural Employment

  • Agriculture remains the primary source of livelihood for a significant portion of India’s population, yet it contributes less than 20% to the GDP. Ensuring sustainable livelihoods requires creating employment opportunities within and beyond agriculture.

Key Measures

  • Value Addition and Agro-Processing: Establishing food processing units in rural areas to create jobs and increase farmers’ income by adding value to raw produce.
  • Promoting Allied Activities: Encouraging activities like dairy farming, poultry, fisheries, and beekeeping to provide additional income sources.
  • Skill Development: Training farmers and rural youth in modern agricultural practices, technology usage, and entrepreneurship to enhance productivity and employability.
  • Strengthening Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs): Empowering FPOs to provide better market access, bargaining power, and economies of scale to small and marginal farmers.

Infrastructure Development

  • Infrastructure is the backbone of agricultural progress. Investments in rural infrastructure can enhance productivity, reduce costs, and improve access to markets.

Key Measures

  • Irrigation Infrastructure: Expanding irrigation networks and ensuring equitable water distribution are critical for mitigating rainfall dependency.
  • Road and Market Connectivity: Building rural roads to improve access to markets and reducing transportation costs for farmers.
  • Digital Infrastructure: Leveraging digital platforms for e-marketing, knowledge dissemination, and financial inclusion through initiatives like e-NAM (National Agricultural Market).
  • Energy Access: Promoting renewable energy solutions like solar pumps and microgrids to reduce dependency on expensive and unreliable energy sources.

Cross-Cutting Themes

  • In addition to these four core areas, there are overarching strategies that can enhance agricultural transformation:

Policy and Institutional Reforms

  • Land Reforms: Ensuring land consolidation, digitization of land records, and promoting contract farming to optimise land use.
  • Rationalising Subsidies: Redirecting subsidies toward investment in modern technology, irrigation, and renewable energy instead of inefficient input subsidies.
  • Strengthening Research and Extension: Increasing investment in agricultural research and strengthening extension services to bring scientific knowledge to farmers.

Financial Inclusion

  • Expanding access to credit through institutional mechanisms like Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) & microfinance.
  • Developing crop insurance schemes that are accessible and cover a wider range of risks.

Technology Integration

  • Promoting precision agriculture, artificial intelligence, and Internet of Things (IoT) applications for real-time monitoring and decision-making.
  • Encouraging start-ups in the agri-tech sector to provide innovative solutions to farmers.

Environmental Sustainability

  • Promoting organic farming and natural farming techniques to reduce dependency on chemical inputs.
  • Encouraging community-based natural resource management to protect water, forests, and soil.

Government Initiatives for Indian Agriculture

  1. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): Focuses on expanding irrigation.
  2. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): Promotes organic farming.
  3. Soil Health Card Scheme: Aims to restore soil fertility.
  4. Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF): Supports rural infrastructure projects.
  5. Digital Agriculture Mission: Focuses on integrating technology into agriculture.

Indian agriculture must adopt a multidimensional approach to overcome challenges and ensure sustainability. Strategic reforms, technology integration, and community participation are key to achieving inclusive and resilient agricultural growth.

Reference: Livemint

UPSC Mains PYQs – Theme – Agriculture

  1. How will the emerging trends in agricultural practices impact food security in India? (2022)
  2. What are the main constraints in the transport and marketing of agricultural produce in India? How can these constraints be overcome? (2021)
  3. Explain the meaning of “investment in agriculture” and discuss the role of technology in modernizing Indian agriculture. (2020)
  4. What are the challenges and opportunities of food processing in India? How can this sector be made more efficient and export-oriented? (2019)

PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 57

Q. Examine the key measures required to overcome the challenges in Indian agriculture and ensure its sustainable growth and modernization. (150 Words) (10 Marks)

Approach

  • Introduction: Briefly explain the importance of agriculture in India, highlighting its role in food security, employment, and the rural economy.
  • Body: Identify key challenges and elaborate on various measures to address those challenges:
  • Conclusion: Reiterate need for a comprehensive & integrated approach to revitalise Indian agriculture.

Newsletter Updates

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss an important update!

Assured Discounts on our New Products!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Newsletter

Never miss an important update!