A majority of Indian citizens rely on agriculture as their livelihood, and it should never be underestimated. Even though its contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) has decreased to less than 20 percent while other sectors have been growing at a faster rate, agricultural production continues to rise.
This has helped us become self-sufficient and taken us from needing to beg for food after independence to being a net exporter of agriculture and allied products.
315.72 million tonnes of foodgrain will be produced in India in 2021-22, up 1.6 percent from the previous year, according to the agriculture ministry’s fourth advance estimates. However, the demand for foodgrain is expected to rise to 345 million tonnes by 2030, according to Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).
In India, population growth, average income rise, and globalization effects will fuel demand for quantity, quality, and nutritious food. As a result, there will be even greater pressure to find ways to increase agricultural productivity on an ever-shrinking amount of cultivable land.
The agricultural sector will have to contend with several challenges posed by climate change in the coming years. With more extreme weather conditions, pests and diseases are likely to become more widespread and difficult to control. Water availability is also expected to decline as a result of climate change, which will have a direct impact on crop yields.
Indian Agriculture’s Fundamental Limitations
Indian agriculture has many limitations. India is a largely agrarian economy with around 54% of its population still dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. The sector only contributes around 17% to the country’s GDP.
Indian agriculture is still largely rain-fed, with only around 46% of the total cultivable area under irrigation. This makes the sector vulnerable to droughts, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change.Soil health is another big challenge facing Indian agriculture.
65% of India’s soils are degraded, and this has a direct impact on crop yields. Waterlogging, soil erosion, and declining organic matter are some of the main reasons for soil degradation.The sector is also facing a crisis ofdeclining groundwater levels.
According to a report by NITI Aayog, 21 major Indian cities will run out of groundwater by 2020. This is a direct result of over-exploitation, as farmers are forced to rely on groundwater to irrigate their crops.To sustain the growing population, Indian agriculture will need to produce more food with fewer resources.
This can only be achieved by increasing agricultural productivity.Technological advances in the form of climate-smart agriculture can help farmers adapt to the changing environment and increase their yields. The use of precision farming techniques, such as drip irrigation and satellite-based mapping, can help farmers reduce wastage of water and fertilizers, and improve crop yields.
Let’s talk about how Indian agriculture will change in the future.
Future Of Indian Agriculture: Emerging Trends
Agricultural Exports
India is the leading exporter of agricultural goods, making it a major market to watch for anyone in that industry. With deregulation under WTO principles, more volume is being exported now than ever before with even more growth potential in the near future.
India’s main agricultural exports are rice, meat, sugar, and cotton.In order to increase its competitiveness in global markets, India will need to improve its transport and infrastructure.
Agricultural exports are characterized by favorable trade conditions, with low import costs, ideal weather and agricultural infrastructure, as well as a low input unit cost. All these factors make India an attractive destination for agricultural exports.
Agricultural exports are essential for the growth of the agricultural industry and provide more job opportunities while diversifying crops.
Agricultural Diversification
Agriculture not only meets the food demand but also other development needs. In recent years, the farming industry has been producing commercial and horticultural crops such as Fruits, Vegetables, Spices, Cashews, Areca Nut, Coconut and Flour Products Flowers, Orchids, Dairy, Animal Husbandry.
The main objective of agricultural diversification is to make use of underutilized and marginal lands so that farmers can get better incomes, thereby improving their overall standard of living. Agricultural diversification also helps in reducing pressure on the main crop land, which leads to increased productivity and environmental sustainability.
The liberalization of the economy has allowed the agricultural sector to grow in terms of production and trade. The removal of quantitative restrictions and the reduction in tariffs have made it possible for the agricultural sector to become more competitive in the global market. This has led to an increase in agricultural exports, which has in turn led to a diversification of the crops that are being grown.
Use of biotechnology for agricultural purposes
The Green Revolution saw a large-scale increase in the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers to keep up with the demand for food. However, this came at a cost to the environment and human health.The use of biotechnology can help reduce the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, and improve crop yields.
The use of genetically modified crops is one of the most controversial applications of biotechnology in agriculture. Genetically modified crops are those that have been altered using genetic engineering techniques.The use of biotechnology in agriculture is not without its critics. Some people believe that the use of genetically modified crops can lead to the loss of biodiversity, and that they are not safe for human consumption.
Use of Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology can be used in agriculture to improve the efficiency of fertilizer and pesticide use, and to develop new methods of pest control.The use of nanotechnology in agriculture is still in its early stages, but it has the potential to revolutionize the way we grow food.
In the near future, nano-technology will be utilized to enhance food quality and safety while more effectively utilizing inputs. Nano-materials in agriculture will reduce chemical waste, minimize mineral losses during fertilization, and be used to boost yield through pest and nutrition management.
The use of nanotechnology will also help in the development of new methods of pesticide application that are more targeted and effective. In addition, nanotechnology can be used to create more efficient irrigation systems that use less water.
The future of Indian agriculture looks bright, with the sector poised for continued growth and development. Successful tests with nano-fertilizers have been conducted by IFFCO.
Digital Agriculture
The use of digital technology is transforming the way we grow food. Farmers are using sensors to monitor soil moisture levels, weather data to predict storms, and drones to map fields.Digital agriculture is not only making farming more efficient, but it is also helping to connect farmers with the global market.
The use of digital technology is transforming the way we grow food. Farmers are using sensors to monitor soil moisture levels, weather data to predict storms, and drones to map fields.Digital agriculture is not only making farming more efficient, but it is also helping to connect farmers with the global market.
In 2025, India is projected to have 666.4 million internet users- a remarkable increase from its current connectivity. With easier market access and mobile devices in hand, farmers will be able to communicate more efficiently with different stakeholders.E-NAM, an online trading portal for agricultural commodities, is a step in this direction that will promote digital agriculture in India.
Government will make extensive use of digital technology to educate farmers, share information, and administer government programs using digital technology for monetary transfers. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana is an example of a government program that is already using digital technology to disburse insurance claims to farmers.
There will undoubtedly be more government, village communities, agri businesses, and private actors working to preserve rapidly depleting water resources. Digital technology may help make this a reality. There will be increased usage of satellites, IoT, drones for better soil health data collection in order to decrease insurance rates and provide greater accuracy.
Digitalised Retailing
Retailing in agriculture will largely be digitalised. The trend has already begun with the advent of e-commerce in India. E-commerce offers a number of advantages to farmers, including a wider market for their products, and the ability to sell directly to consumers.
E-commerce platforms such as Amazon, JioMart and Flipkart are already working with farmers to sell their products online. The use of digital technology will also help to connect farmers with the global market.
With modern traceable logistics and a transparent supply chain, over 90% of kirana stores in the country will be digitised by 2025, according to one research.
Precision Farming
Precision farming will be aided by soil testing-based decisions and automation, which will be applied to agricultural application inputs in general. Sensors and drones will be used for precision, quality, and environmental assurance in a cost-effective way. The benefits of precision farming include increased yields, reduced inputs costs, and improved environmental sustainability. In addition, precision farming can help farmers to adapt to climate change.
The Indian government has been working to promote precision farming in the country. The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) is one initiative that seeks to promote micro-irrigation, which is a type of precision farming.
Smartphones and other technologies, such as drones and robots, may make farming more convenient and exciting while providing excellent results. Agriculture will be more profitable, simple, and sustainable with these sophisticated gadgets.
Collecting data with integrated hardware like GPS-equipped tractors or sensors can help make farming more accurate and reduce risks. Farmers need to have access to better information about the crops they are growing, the soil they are using, and the weather conditions in order to make more informed decisions.
The technology can be used to collect and analyze data, so that farmers can make specific decisions for their field zones. This information allows them to operate more efficiently on a day-to-day basis.
Vertical And Urban Farming
The world’s population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, and 82% of people will live in cities. This means that there will be an increased demand for food, and less land available to grow it. Vertical farming is a type of agriculture that involves growing crops in vertically stacked layers in a controlled environment. This type of farming can be done in urban areas, and doesn’t require as much land as traditional farming.
There are many benefits to urban agriculture, including the fact that it can help to improve air quality, reduce noise pollution, and provide fresh produce to city residents.
Many large cities in India, such as Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Chennai have taken up urban agriculture under the guidance of either government organizations or private groups.
Conclusion
The future of Indian agriculture is promising. With the help of technology, farmers will be able to increase their yields, reduce their inputs costs, and improve their environmental sustainability. In addition, precision farming can help farmers to adapt to climate change. The use of digital technology will also help to connect farmers with the global market.