The next farm revolution must aim at significantly raising farmers’ incomes

Source: The post “The next farm revolution must aim at significantly raising farmers’ incomes” has been created based on “The next farm revolution must aim at significantly raising farmers’ incomes” published in “Indian Express” on 12th October 2026.

UPSC Syllabus: GS-3-Indian Economy

Context:  Indian agriculture has achieved significant progress in food security, irrigation and agricultural exports since 2001-2026. India has strengthened its position as a major producer and exporter of agricultural commodities, while the expansion of foodgrain procurement and buffer stocks has helped ensure national food security. However, challenges such as climate change and ground water depletion and Post-harvest challenges, etc continue to affect the sector.

Achievement of Indian Agriculture

1. India’s agriculture economy is valued at around $600 billion and could cross $1 trillion over the next decade through value-added processing and improved market linkages.
2. Improved irrigation: Following the droughts of 2014 and 2015, the government prioritised irrigation and crop insurance through the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). Nearly 60% of India’s gross cropped area is now irrigated.
3. Food security: India is the world’s largest producer and exporter of rice. Foodgrain stocks remain above prescribed buffer norms despite the provision of free foodgrains under the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana.
4. Agricultural trade: In 2025–26, India exported agricultural products worth approximately $53 billion and imported goods worth $40 billion.
5. Economic growth: Agricultural GDP grew at an average annual rate of around 4% between 2014–15 and 2025–26.
6. Exemplified Growth in Gujarat: Gujarat recorded agricultural growth of over 9% annually, supported by irrigation, rural electrification, roads, agricultural extension and Bt cotton.

Major Challenges

1. Mismatch between production and demand: India produces surplus rice and wheat but faces shortages of pulses and oilseeds, increasing dependence on imports.
2. Unsustainable cultivation: Paddy cultivation in Punjab and Haryana puts pressure on groundwater. The water table in Haryana is reportedly declining by around 1.7 feet annually.
3. Unequal incentives: Subsidies on electricity, fertilisers and irrigation make paddy cultivation lucrative, discouraging farmers from shifting to pulses and oilseeds.
4. Unfulfilled income goals: The target of doubling farmers’ real incomes remains unachieved. Agricultural growth of around 4% is insufficient to meet the much higher growth rate estimated by the Ashok Dalwai Committee.
5. Post-harvest challenges: Diversification into milk, fisheries, poultry, fruits and vegetables requires efficient value chains and access to high-income consumers because these products are perishable.

Way Forward

1. Promote crop diversification: Provide incentives of approximately ₹35,000 per hectare to pulses and oilseeds farmers to encourage a shift away from paddy. This could be supported through a 50:50 cost-sharing arrangement between the Centre and states.
2. Rationalise subsidies: Redirect existing power, irrigation and fertiliser subsidies towards crops that promote self-sufficiency and environmental sustainability.
3. Promote agri-photovoltaics: Install solar panels around 10–11 feet above agricultural land, with sufficient spacing to allow crops to grow underneath. This enables farmers to produce both food and solar energy, becoming annadata as well as urjadata.
4. Reform PM-KUSUM: Adapt the scheme along the lines of PM-Surya Ghar, provide comparable subsidies and ensure remunerative feed-in tariffs for solar power.
5. Scale up successful models: An ICRIER pilot project in Rajasthan reportedly increased a farmer’s income eight to ten times through agri-photovoltaics. Such models can be expanded with suitable safeguards.
6. Strengthen agricultural value chains: Improve storage, processing, transportation and market access to raise returns from high-value agriculture.
7. Conserve natural resources: Encourage less water-intensive crops and sustainable farming practices to protect groundwater and the environment.

Conclusion: India’s next agricultural revolution must focus on income enhancement, crop diversification and sustainable resource use, rather than production alone. Agri-photovoltaics, supported by appropriate policy reforms, can help bring about a new Surya Khet Kranti and contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Question: Indian agriculture must focus not only on increasing production but also on significantly enhancing farmers’ incomes. Discuss the major challenges facing Indian agriculture and suggest measures to achieve sustainable agricultural growth.

Source: Indian Express