Indian agriculture is at an important crossroads. The challenge is no longer simply producing enough food, but ensuring that farmers earn more, withstand climate shocks and become active participants in modern, value-driven agricultural markets. From crop diversification and FPOs to digital agriculture, climate-resilient farming, irrigation efficiency and stronger post-harvest infrastructure, the government is attempting to reshape the farm economy around income, resilience and sustainability.
In this interview, Atish Chandra, IAS, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, discusses the government’s strategy to improve farmers’ incomes, strengthen MSP and procurement, reduce dependence on imported pulses and edible oils, tackle groundwater depletion and post-harvest losses, and use AI and digital technologies to transform agricultural decision-making. He also outlines the broader vision for Indian agriculture by 2047—one that combines farmer prosperity, food security, climate resilience and globally competitive value chains.
Improving farmers’ incomes remains the biggest challenge before Indian agriculture. How is the government addressing it?
Farmer welfare remains the cornerstone of India’s agricultural policy. While the country has emerged as one of the world’s largest producers of foodgrains, fruits, vegetables, milk and fisheries, the government’s priority has shifted from merely increasing production to ensuring higher and stable farm incomes. India recorded 376.56 million tonnes of foodgrain production and 377.77 million tonnes of horticulture production during 2025-26.
The strategy focuses on transforming farmers from commodity producers into entrepreneurs participating across the agricultural value chain. Crop diversification, value addition and stronger market integration are central to this vision. Farmers are being encouraged to diversify beyond the traditional wheat-rice cycle into horticulture, pulses, oilseeds, dairy, fisheries and natural farming, which offer significantly better returns.
Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) are helping small and marginal farmers aggregate produce, reduce input costs and negotiate better prices. Investments in quality seeds, irrigation, mechanisation and rural infrastructure are lowering production costs, while PM-KISAN has emerged as an important income-support programme. Since its launch, over ₹4.47 lakh crore has been transferred directly to farmers. The 23rd instalment, released on 20 June 2026, benefited over 9.44 crore farmers, with transfers exceeding ₹18,885 crore.
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How is Indian agriculture preparing for climate change?
Climate resilience has become a national priority as farmers increasingly face heatwaves, erratic monsoons, floods, droughts, cyclones and emerging pest attacks. Nearly half of India’s cultivated land remains rain-fed, making adaptation essential.
The Ministry is building a climate-resilient agricultural ecosystem through scientific research, efficient water management and digital technologies. ICAR is developing drought-, flood-, heat- and salinity-tolerant crop varieties alongside climate-smart agronomic practices and integrated pest management.
Water conservation programmes promote micro-irrigation, watershed development, rainwater harvesting, precision farming and Direct Seeded Rice (DSR). Crop diversification towards pulses, oilseeds, millets and horticulture is also reducing dependence on water-intensive crops.
Technology has become an important adaptation tool. Artificial Intelligence, drones, satellite imagery, remote sensing and Automatic Weather Stations provide location-specific advisories, real-time crop monitoring and early warnings against pest attacks. Sustainable farming practices such as balanced fertiliser use through Soil Health Cards, integrated nutrient management, agroforestry, organic farming and natural farming are improving soil health while reducing production costs and environmental impact.
Does the government continue to view MSP as a sustainable policy?
MSP remains an essential pillar of India’s food security system. It protects farmers against distress sales, supports the Public Distribution System and assures remunerative prices.
The government continues to fix MSP at at least 1.5 times the weighted average cost of production, ensuring a minimum 50 per cent profit margin. MSP is announced for 22 crops based on recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices.
Procurement, once concentrated largely in wheat and rice, has expanded under PM-AASHA to include pulses, oilseeds and selected horticultural crops. NAFED and NCCF procure directly from registered farmers, eliminating intermediaries. Since 2014, farmers have received over ₹27.80 lakh crore through procurement of about 12,819 lakh metric tonnes of agricultural produce.
While MSP remains vital, the broader objective is to build a diversified, market-oriented agricultural economy supported by value addition, processing, exports and modern infrastructure.
What is the roadmap for edible oil and pulse self-reliance?
Reducing dependence on edible oil imports has become a strategic priority. The government aims to replicate the success of the Green Revolution through the National Mission on Edible Oils–Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) and the National Mission on Edible Oils–Oilseeds (NMEO-OS).
Under NMEO-OP, an additional 2.86 lakh hectares have been brought under oil palm cultivation, increasing the total area to 6.53 lakh hectares. NMEO-OS, with an outlay of over ₹10,103 crore between 2024-25 and 2030-31, seeks to improve oilseed productivity through better seed varieties, scientific cultivation practices and stronger processing infrastructure.
Similarly, pulses are central to both nutritional security and soil health. To reduce imports, the government has launched the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses with an outlay of ₹11,440 crore for 2025-26 to 2030-31. The strategy focuses on increasing productivity through improved varieties of pigeon pea, chickpea, lentil, moong and urad, expansion into rice-fallow areas, intercropping, better seed distribution and stronger procurement under the Price Support Scheme.
How is the government tackling groundwater depletion?
With only 4 per cent of the world’s freshwater resources supporting nearly 18 per cent of the global population, water conservation has become critical. Agriculture consumes almost 80 per cent of India’s freshwater.
The government’s Per Drop More Crop strategy promotes drip and sprinkler irrigation, capable of reducing water consumption by 30-50 per cent while improving productivity. Since 2015-16, nearly 111 lakh hectares have been brought under micro-irrigation.
The Ministry is also promoting DSR, laser land levelling, precision irrigation, watershed development, rainwater harvesting and restoration of traditional water bodies. Satellite mapping, GIS-based water budgeting and remote sensing are improving irrigation planning and identifying vulnerable regions.
What is being done to reduce post-harvest losses?
India has achieved food surplus status, but post-harvest losses—particularly in fruits and vegetables—continue to reduce farmers’ incomes.
The government is investing heavily in warehouses, cold chains, grading facilities, pack houses, processing centres and logistics. Studies by ICAR-CIPHET and NABCONS indicate declining post-harvest losses across most commodities due to improved infrastructure.
The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund has mobilised investments exceeding ₹1.59 lakh crore, with ₹92,357 crore sanctioned across more than 2.05 lakh projects. The World’s Largest Grain Storage Programme, implemented through PACS, is expanding village-level storage and processing facilities.
All 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations envisaged under the national scheme have now been registered, covering around 6.5 million farmers. Food processing is also receiving a major push through PMKSY, PMFME and the Production Linked Incentive Scheme to reduce wastage, generate rural employment and boost exports.
Has PM Fasal Bima Yojana addressed concerns over delayed claim settlement?
PMFBY has become one of the world’s largest crop insurance programmes. Since 2016-17, it has insured over 92.69 crore farmer applications, while claims worth more than ₹2.02 lakh crore have been paid.
Technology is improving transparency and reducing delays. YES-TECH uses remote sensing for more accurate crop yield estimation, while the Weather Information Network and Data System (WINDS) is creating a nationwide network of Automatic Weather Stations and rain gauges for hyper-local weather data. Integration of digital land records and Aadhaar-linked databases has also accelerated claim processing.
What role will digital agriculture play?
The Digital Agriculture Mission seeks to create a comprehensive digital ecosystem through Farmer Registries, geo-referenced land records and Digital Crop Surveys. More than 10 crore Farmer IDs have already been generated, while the Rabi 2025-26 Digital Crop Survey covered 648 districts and 31.3 crore plots.
Artificial Intelligence is supporting weather advisories, pest prediction, fertiliser recommendations and crop health monitoring through drones and satellite imagery. Platforms like e-NAM are improving market transparency, while partnerships with agri-startups are making technology more accessible to small farmers.
What is your vision for Indian agriculture by 2047?
Food security, farmer welfare and environmental sustainability are complementary rather than competing objectives.
The vision for Viksit Bharat 2047 rests on five pillars: enhancing farmer prosperity through diversification and value addition; achieving self-reliance in pulses and edible oils; promoting climate-resilient and resource-efficient farming, including organic and natural agriculture; leveraging digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence for better decision-making and service delivery; and creating globally competitive agricultural value chains that expand exports while safeguarding domestic food security.
Supported by national missions on pulses, edible oils, natural farming, cotton productivity and digital agriculture, along with sustained investments in infrastructure and technology, the government believes India can emerge by 2047 as a global leader in sustainable, technology-driven, high-value agriculture that is profitable for farmers, resilient to climate change and capable of supporting the country’s goal of becoming a developed nation.
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