| Syllabus: GS-III, Subject: Economy, Topic: Agriculture and allied sector, Issue: Role of agriculture in Viksit Bharat |
Importance of Agriculture:
- Agriculture contributes 18% to India’s GDP but employs 45% of the workforce.
Challenges:
- Reducing water consumption, soil degradation, and curbing GHG emissions.
- Without policy changes, agriculture’s share in GDP may drop to 7-8% by 2047.
- Skill formation and job transition are vital for rural populations.
- Agri-GDP growth in 2023-24 is low at 0.7%, posing risks for economic disparity.
- Extreme weather events threaten agriculture’s stability.
The way ahead
- Policy reforms should rationalize subsidies, boost R&D, promote high-value agriculture, and facilitate market access.
- Access to pan-India and export markets should be enhanced through cooperatives, FPOs, digital commerce, and contract farming.
- Restrictions on futures trading should be reconsidered for price stability.
- Viksit Bharat needs to prioritize agricultural development for inclusivity and productivity.
