Blog

India must meet its domestic requirements and intensify efforts to increase agricultural exports. Agriculture’s share of India’s economy has dropped below 15% due to the rise of the industrial and service sectors, but its significance remains immense. As India prepares for its upcoming budget, a prime opportunity arises to elevate its agricultural exports to new heights. The agricultural sector is not only an economic pillar but also a lifeline for millions of people because nearly three-quarters of Indian families rely on rural incomes and the majority of the country’s poor—some 770 million people, or about 70%—live in rural areas.

India is a world leader in agriculture because it produces the most pulses (27.67 MMT, or 28 percent of global production), spices (11.14 MMT), milk (213 MMT, or 22 percent of global production), and cattle (the largest herd). It is also the second-largest producer of rice, wheat, cotton, sugarcane, farmed fish, sheep and goat meat, fruit, vegetables, and tea, and it has the largest areas under cultivation for wheat, rice, and cotton. Despite these accolades, India’s food security depends on increasing milk production, cereal crops, fruits, and vegetables, and other agricultural products to meet the growing population’s needs across income levels. As a result, it is essential to move quickly toward a diversified, sustainable, competitive, and productive agricultural sector.

Nonetheless, while tending to homegrown requirements is fundamental, India actually should heighten its endeavors on helping rural products. India has a golden chance to become a major agricultural exporter thanks to the growing demand for high-quality agricultural products on the global market. In addition to being beneficial to the economy, this change is necessary to serve the Indian diaspora in other countries, who are looking for authentic Indian goods and produce.

As India plans for its impending spending plan, a superb open door arises to raise its horticultural products higher than ever. The government intends to increase India’s share of global exports to 4-5 percent over the next few years, from the current 2.4%. By zeroing in on upgrading post-reap foundation, putting resources into high-worth and environment versatile harvests, and using state of the art ag-tech developments, the financial plan can introduce another time of farming success.

Above all else, supporting post-reap foundation is basic. Produce wastage is a persistent problem that reduces export potential due to inadequate storage and transportation facilities. India’s agricultural produce will continue to be fresh and ready for export if funds are allocated to construct cutting-edge storage facilities, effective logistics networks, and robust supply chains. In addition to reducing post-harvest losses, this investment will improve the quality and competitiveness of Indian goods on global markets.

Prioritizing high-value crops simultaneously has the potential to transform India’s agricultural landscape. By concentrating on crops like spices (pepper, cardamom, chili, turmeric, coriander, cumin, etc.) that have a significant export potential, natural produce, and intriguing organic products (Rambutan, Mangosteen, Persimmon, Enthusiasm Natural product, Kiwi, Mythical beast Natural product, Fig, and so forth.), India can take advantage of worthwhile worldwide business sectors. The spending plan can give the essential force to this shift by offering monetary impetuses and specialized help to ranchers ready to wander into these roads.

The threat of climate change is no longer distant; It is a current fact. The crisis is starkly emphasized by the unprecedented heat of the summer. The creation of a plan for adaptation is not optional; rather, it is necessary. Extension to climate-resilient agricultural practices, investment in the development of tolerant varieties, and expanding access to financial services and technical advice ought to be taken into consideration when allocating budget resources. Farmers can benefit from climate-resilient crops’ increased incomes and economic resilience by diversifying their crops and adopting them through targeted subsidies and research and development efforts.

In addition, adopting ag-tech innovations will transform Indian agriculture. The mix of cutting edge innovations like accuracy cultivating, artificial intelligence driven investigation, and IoT can advance cultivating rehearses, improve yield, and guarantee reasonable utilization of assets. Indian agricultural exports will become more appealing as a result of this technological leap, which will also increase domestic productivity. To increase the number of ag-tech players, states like Telangana and Uttar Pradesh have developed state-specific agri-tech policies. The development and implementation of these technologies, which will make it easier for marginal and small farmers to access them, should receive funding from the budget. Laying out ag-tech centers, advancing new companies, and encouraging public-private organizations can speed up the reception of these developments, situating India as a forerunner in agri-tech.

Tech can help in a ton of the drives that are being controlled by the public authority like the PMFBY (Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana), PMKSY (Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana), Soil Wellbeing Card, e-NAM (Public Horticulture Market), KCC (Kisan Mastercard), PKVY (Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana), RKVY (Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana), ACABC (Agri Facilities and Agri Business Focuses). Farmers can maximize the benefits of these government programs by adopting technology, resulting in increased income, improved resource management, and increased agricultural productivity. The export potential of GI-mapped crops like tea from Darjeeling, basmati from the Himalayan foothills, alphonso from Ratnagiri, kalanamak rice from Uttar Pradesh, saffron from Kashmir, and so on can be significantly increased with the help of blockchain technology. Such innovations address a groundbreaking step towards advancing and promoting the nation’s secret horticultural jewels. Blockchain has the potential to assist Indian farmers and producers in gaining access to lucrative global markets by enhancing transparency, simplifying certification, ensuring authenticity, and fostering consumer trust.

In conclusion, the agricultural sector’s potential for global dominance lies in the upcoming Indian budget. by concentrating on enhancing post-harvest infrastructure, providing a favorable ecosystem for the expansion of ag-tech innovations and their proliferation at ground level, subsidizing investments in high-value and climate-resilient crops, and India may be able to secure its place in the global agricultural market, raise rural incomes, and increase agricultural exports with the assistance of this infra-produce-tech triple threat. A visionary budget that paves the way for a robust and thriving agricultural economy is needed now more than ever.