Theme
The Indian government is conscious of the need to improve the sustainability and economic viability of agriculture. In order to address the issues that farmers confront, including low profitability, high costs of inputs, fluctuations in the market, climate change, indebtedness, and a lack of institutional support, the government has been implementing a variety of actions. Given that it employs a significant portion of the labor force and maintains food security for the majority of the population, India’s agricultural sector is extremely important to both the country’s economy and society as a whole. The policymakers in India have made it a priority to improve the state of the country’s agriculture.
Why is it Important to make Agriculture Economically Profitable?
- To guarantee the availability of food: India has a sizable population and a rising food demand. It is crucial to make agriculture profitable so that farmers can produce enough food to meet demand in order to guarantee that everyone has access to enough food.
- To encourage rural development: The rural economy is mostly reliant on agriculture. It is feasible to encourage rural development and better the lives of people who reside there by making agriculture commercially viable.
- To Support the Livelihoods of a Majority of Indians: The living conditions and general well-being of the millions of Indians who depend on farming for a living can be improved by making agriculture economically viable. More than 50% of the Indian population directly depends on agriculture as their primary source of income and employment.
- To Promote Economic Growth and Stability: The contribution of agriculture to India’s GDP is approximately 17–18%. By boosting agricultural production, lowering wastage, diversifying crops, enhancing value addition, and ensuring food security, making agriculture commercially viable may support India’s overall economic growth and stability.
- To Adopt Natural and Sustainable Farming Methods: Agriculture contributes to soil erosion, greenhouse gas emissions, water scarcity, and environmental deterioration. The use of toxic pesticides, irrigation, and subsidies are common in modern farming methods. Making agriculture commercially viable can promote natural and sustainable farming methods that lessen their impact on the environment and improve adaptation to climate change.
