India has achieved a record-breaking foodgrain production of 332.2 million tonnes in the 2023-24 agricultural year, surpassing the previous year’s output of 329.7 million tonnes. The development is being considered as a significant milestone in India’s economy and food security.
The Union ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare has termed it a historic achievement of the agricultural sector, which employs nearly half of India’s population, and plays a pivotal role in nation-building.
With the agriculture sector contributing 17.7% to the Gross Value Added (GVA) in FY 2023-24, agriculture remains a vital driver of India’s growth. With over 54.8% of the country’s 328.7 million hectares classified as agricultural land, the sector thrives on a cropping intensity of 155.4%, as per the latest Land Use Statistics, reveals a statement by the agriculture ministry.
As per the ministry the Union Government has significantly enhanced its support for the agriculture sector since 2014. The budget allocation for the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has seen a fivefold increase, growing from Rs. 21,933.50 crore in 2013-14 to Rs. 1,22,528.77 crore for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
Among the key initiatives contributing to this growth is the Clean Plant Programme (CPP), launched with an outlay of Rs. 1,765.67 crore. Approved on August 9, this year the program focuses on improving the quality and productivity of horticulture crops by providing disease-free planting material. It aims to disseminate and adopt climate-resilient varieties, enhancing yields across the country.
In addition, the Digital Agriculture Mission, approved on September 2, this year with a budget of Rs. 2,817 crore, is set to revolutionize farming practices. The initiative includes the creation of Digital Public Infrastructure and the implementation of the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES), among other IT-driven agricultural advancements. Moreover, recently on December 16, the union government launched the Credit Guarantee Scheme for e-NWR Based Pledge Financing (CGS-NPF) with a Rs. 1,000-crore corpus. This scheme provides farmers with access to post-harvest financing by pledging their produce stored in accredited warehouses through electronic negotiable warehouse receipts (e-NWRs).
Record
- Agriculture contributes 17.7% to the Gross Value Added (GVA) in FY 2023-24.
- Among key initiatives contributing to this growth is the Clean Plant Programme (CPP), launched with an outlay of Rs 1,765.67 crore.
- Agriculture Mission with a budget of Rs 2,817 crore is set to revolutionise farming practices. 2020
- The initiative includes the creation of Digital Public Infrastructure and the implementation of the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES).
- The Centre has launched scheme for post-harvest financing by pledging their produce stored in accredited warehouses through electronic negotiable warehouse receipts (e-NWRs).
