Shaping India’s agricultural legacy for next 25 years
Shaping India’s agricultural legacy for next 25 years | Mint Mint
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India’s Agricultural Sector and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The Importance of Indian Agriculture
India is one of the largest agricultural countries in the world, with more than half of its population depending on agriculture and its allied sectors for their livelihood. The country has the second-largest area under agriculture, after China, and is a major producer of crop-based food. It is also among the top 10 global agricultural exporters, with agriculture constituting about 12% of all domestic merchandise exports annually.
Challenges Faced by the Indian Agriculture Sector
Despite these achievements, the growth of the Indian agriculture sector has averaged a modest 4.6% in recent years. Various challenges such as unsustainable use of land and water, fragmented landholdings, lack of affordable credit, inadequate infrastructure, spread of pests and insects, and price volatility have been impacting farm productivity, sustainability, and growth. However, these issues can be addressed through a holistic approach involving key stakeholders including farmers, policymakers, researchers, and private entities.
The Impact of Climate Change
One of the biggest threats to agriculture in India is climate change. Intermittent cycles of heat and drought, as well as heavy rains and floods, have led to water scarcity or surplus, resulting in a decline in cultivable land and crop production. Urgent risk-mitigation strategies such as climate-resilient sustainable farming systems are needed, especially in vulnerable regions, to help farmers cope with the adverse impact of climate change.
Niti Aayog’s Vision for Indian Agriculture
A recent Niti Aayog vision document calls for a paradigm shift in agriculture to make India a developed nation by 2047. It addresses four priority areas, including enhancing food security and nutrition, adopting a climate-smart approach, promoting value chains for small farmers, and moving from traditional to digital farming. These areas aim to overcome challenges, explore emerging opportunities, and achieve sustainable and inclusive agri-food systems.
Enhancing Food Security and Nutrition
India’s proposal to declare 2023 as the International Year of Millets aims to strengthen domestic and global food security and nutrition. To succeed, the growth rate of food production must surpass that of the human population. Emphasizing nutritive and healthy foods, as well as biofortification, can improve the nutritional quality of food crops.
Adopting a Climate-Smart Approach
With unpredictable weather conditions, farmers are more vulnerable to crop and income losses. Providing farmers with cheap finance and skill training can help them adopt climate-friendly technologies and anticipate unexpected weather events. Expanding the use of seed technology can also improve the quality of food crops and livelihoods.
Promoting Value Chains for Small Farmers
Small farmers, who constitute nearly 70% of landholding in India, face challenges in adopting innovative practices and maximizing productivity. Giving them access to affordable credit, tech-based knowledge, and necessary skills can help them produce high-value crops. Developing efficient post-harvest food systems, including value chains, can provide better market access and procurement prices. Agritech startups play a crucial role in adopting new-age technologies to improve the food value chain.
Moving from Traditional to Digital Farming
Agriculture is changing rapidly due to digital and emerging technologies. Farmers engaged in traditional agri-food systems need transformative breakthroughs to catch up with the tech-driven agri space. Disseminating knowledge and training in the effective use of technologies like app-based platforms, e-commerce, and digital payments can open up new marketing and income opportunities for farmers. Collaboration between new-age and traditional companies is essential to reach farmers across the country.
Conclusion
The Indian agriculture sector is undergoing significant changes with the advancement of technology and innovation. Mechanization, conservation practices, food diversity, sustainability, cost-effective crop production, and employment opportunities are improving. New regulations are also creating a favorable environment for the private sector. However, there is a need to encourage the younger generation to enter agribusiness and become agricultural entrepreneurs to drive socio-economic change in the sector.
Balram Singh Yadav, Managing Director, Godrej Agrovet Ltd.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
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SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular, the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round.
- Indicator 2.1.1: Prevalence of undernourishment (PoU).
- Indicator 2.1.2: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population, based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES).
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SDG 13: Climate Action
- Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
- Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.
- Indicator 13.1.2: Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.
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SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.
- Indicator 8.3.1: Proportion of informal employment in non-agriculture employment, by sex.
- Indicator 8.3.2: Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age group, and persons with disabilities.
SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
---|---|---|
SDG 2: Zero Hunger | Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular, the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round. | Indicator 2.1.1: Prevalence of undernourishment (PoU) Indicator 2.1.2: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population, based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) |
SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. | Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population Indicator 13.1.2: Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 |
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services. | Indicator 8.3.1: Proportion of informal employment in non-agriculture employment, by sex Indicator 8.3.2: Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age group, and persons with disabilities |
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Source: livemint.com
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