Agriculture accounts for nearly one-fifth of India's gross value added, employing approximately 46% of the workforce in India.
Performance of Indian Agriculture (in 2024-25)
- Record Production:Foodgrain (357.73 MT); Horticulture (362.08 MT, marking a shift toward high-value crops).
- Global Rankings:
- First Globally: Pulses, Millets, Dry Onion (nearly 25% of world output), Coconut, Spices.
- Second Globally:Cereals (Rice & Wheat), Fruits & Vegetables, Cash Crops (Sugarcane, Cotton and Tea).
- Exports: grew to USD 51.1 billion in FY25 from USD 34.5 billion in FY20.
- The share of processed food exports risen to 20.4% (in FY25) from nearly 15% (in FY18), highlighting a shift toward high-value integration in global markets.
Initiatives taken for Agriculture in India
- Financial:
- Income Support (Over Rs. 4.27 lakh crore as of March 2026 under PM-KISAN);
- Risk Management (Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana insured 4.19 crore farmers in 2024-25);
- Institutional Credit (7.72 crore operative Kisan Credit Card accounts).
- Targeted Missions: like the National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (for rice, wheat, pulses, and nutri-cereals), the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (2025–31), and the National Mission on Edible Oils.
- Other: 25 crore Soil Health Cards (by 2025) and 6.85 lakh Seed Villages (to ensure quality seed production); Digital Integration (e.g. e-NAM has linked 1.8 crore farmers); 10,000 FPOs by February 2026 to enhance collective bargaining.
