Where do you see Indian agriculture in 2030?

“Farmers in India have been trapped for a long in the vicious cycle, and a deep sense of need for actual reform in the sector has been felt”, was the initial feedback that our Prime Minister gave during his speech in initial days. “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas” has been the chant since then to stream line the economy and the society. We have great challenges ahead in row – “Doubling the farmers’ income by 2022”, “$5 trillion economy by 2024” and “Transforming the world: the 2030 agenda for sustainable development” and not to leave the very new voice of “ATMANIRBHAR Bharat” and the “Vocal for local”. These goals have utter importance in re-revolutionizing and reconstituting the agriculture sector of India.

Green revolution has been the first and the last phase of transformation in agricultural sector since its dawn in 1960s; we have literally been stagnated without any galloping around. The upcoming self-reliant India would see huge variations in the Economy, Infrastructure, System, Vibrant Demography and Demand, all these 5 being the pillars of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Integrated Agricultural Development has always been seen as effective and productive means to build the farmers, the economy and the ecology. 

Developing high tech, faster reach and highway roads to large cities, district headquarters and markets would allow quick and timely transport of perishable goods. Recently Government of India has launched “Bharatmala Pariyojna”, which aims to build 66,100kms of economic corridors, border and coastal roads and express highways to boost highway network with initial investments of $82 billion by 2022. The “Saubhagya” Scheme for electricity to all households and the “BharatNet” Broadband project for India would boost the reach of farmers in every aspects of farming. Government has also announced Rs.1 lakh crore Agri Infrastructure Fund for farm-gate infrastructure for farmers with adequate Cold-chain & Post-Harvest infrastructure for better global standards and pricing of Indian Agricultural goods. Once the basic facilities and infrastructure is ready, the agriculture production would be at peak as there would be no hurdles in delivering the agricultural commodities to the buyers everywhere.

Role of Agricultural universities, Farmer Producers Organizations and APEDA would be enhanced once the interest would shift towards developing re-revolutionized agriculture. In fact the Agricultural universities are the ones that have saved, secured and propagated the interest of better farming and sustainability all over the country since its start. Many graduates have shifted towards farming with not just traditional outlook but a very innovative, self-reliable and profiting technique in rural agriculture. “Start Up India, Stand Up India” will see huge inflow of ideas and companies built out of practical ideas which will be implementable at any time. The role of Multi-national companies has been kept aside since the rise of Indian giant companies targeting the world’s biggest competitors. 

“Reliance” – has plans to enlist itself in the top 20 companies of the world which has already revolutionized the Digital Networking in India since its start in 2016. It’s no doubt that a company like Reliance wants to create a monopoly in every sectors of India and the “Reliance Fresh” may have been an initial start in the field of agriculture. These companies could use their own digital base to create a whole new era of agriculture by 2030 which is limitless and achievable as we have seen the digital revolution.

The world is witnessing a rapid Climate change and India is nowhere safe from the outrage and fury of the climate as we are surrounded by the calm but ferocious oceans with capabilities to destroy whole landmass at any time. The Indian Ocean Dipole and the newly emerging El-Nino Southern Oscillations (ENSO) have already shown its fierce gambling in this year’s unaccounted, unpredictable and unseasonal rainfall pattern in Central India that attributes to a new normal which could invite perennial locust attacks, could damage monsoon crops with heavy rains and could lead to longer monsoon seasons with dreadful agricultural activities. New varieties, new hybrids and new way of farming should be the concern of Agricultural Universities to tackle the upcoming uncertainties. 

The ongoing pandemic all over the world would surely create a new normal in every fields of life, as also in agriculture. Imports would be restricted, MNC’s would be sidelined and during such times exports to different countries with international quality could be the chance to revive agricultural economy. The world’s largest exports namely dairy products and processed foods account for 40% of global value chains and India could harness the capacity to deliver processed foods and better dairy products with the enhanced agricultural activities.

India being an emerging country has found its right opportunity to develop and enhance its capabilities all over its sectors. The Self-reliant India could achieve all the goals and challenges in line with the future while the agricultural reforms could actually revolutionize into a new arena in the global trends. We could well see an economy dominated by agricultural exports and activities, contributing large sums to the national GDP with new age commodities. Indian youth have begun to cultivate and nurture the aspirations, ideas and objectives in achieving better farming as world is witnessing a make-shift and a change over in trends. It’s now or never time for every shareholders, peer groups and beneficiaries to work all along the profitable lines. The Government, the policies, The Agricultural Universities, the FPOs, the Start-ups, individuals and the farmers could play their role in building up a Self-reliant Agricultural Economy by 2030.