7 imperatives to build a viksit agri economy by 2047

India’s agriculture is at a critical point, facing challenges related to food security, rural livelihoods, and sustainability. While some progress has been made in productivity, the country continues to lag behind in the adoption of modern agricultural technologies. As part of its vision for a developed agricultural economy by 2047, India needs to focus on seven key imperatives to transform its agri sector.

Technology Adoption in Agriculture:

• Use of AI in Agriculture: AI is being explored in India for weather forecasting, pest control, and crop yield optimization. However, its penetration remains limited, primarily to tech-savvy farmers. For broader adoption, India must develop vernacular AI platforms, create affordable solutions with AgTech companies, and leverage government programs for disseminating AI-based advisory services.
• Regenerative Farming Practices: While regenerative farming methods like organic farming and zero-budget natural farming have seen limited adoption, monoculture and chemical dependency dominate most agricultural practices in India. A national policy on regenerative farming, coupled with private sector-led R&D, is essential for sustainable agro-ecology practices.
• Robotics and Automation: Robotic adoption in India remains restricted due to high costs and the prevalence of a large labor force. To scale automation, India needs to develop affordable robotic solutions tailored for small farms and promote public-private partnerships for testing and deploying innovative automation technologies.

Emerging Market and Technological Innovations:

• Alternative Protein Market: India’s alternative protein market is in its nascent stage, hindered by affordability and scalability challenges. Collaboration with global leaders for improved production, formulation techniques, and public awareness can help India tap into this growing sector, with significant potential for sustainable protein sources.
• Digital Twins in Agriculture: Digital twin technology, used to model virtual field trials, is scarcely applied in India. To enhance agricultural productivity, India should partner with AgTech firms, train researchers in digital modeling, and offer tax incentives for digital twin solutions, which can reduce costs and expedite the launch of new agri-technologies.
• Blockchain in Agricultural Supply Chains: Blockchain adoption in India remains experimental, primarily focused on food traceability. China’s integration of blockchain has improved transparency and market access. India should focus on scaling blockchain in export crops to enhance price realization for farmers and boost global competitiveness.

Sustainable Farming and Climate Resilience:

• Climate-Smart Farming Techniques: India must scale up climate-smart initiatives, including micro-irrigation technologies, climate-resilient seed varieties, and bio-based crop protection products. Programs like PM-KUSUM are a start, but there is a need for large-scale climate-smart farming to ensure long-term agricultural sustainability.
• Localized Climate Advisory Systems: AI can be leveraged to develop region-specific climate advisory systems to support farmers in making informed decisions about irrigation and crop management. Such systems can complement the efforts toward micro-irrigation and climate-resilient farming practices.
• Policy Reforms and Investments: The transformation of Indian agriculture requires strategic investments, policy reforms, and grassroots engagement. Customizing and adapting successful global solutions to the Indian context will ensure smallholder farmers benefit from these technological advancements, contributing to the vision of a developed agricultural economy by 2047.

Practice Question:

Q. India’s agricultural sector is at a crossroads, requiring the adoption of advanced technologies and sustainable practices. Critically examine the seven imperatives for transforming Indian agriculture and suggest a roadmap for achieving a technologically advanced and sustainable farming system by 2047.