Agriculture Minister Highlights Transformative Growth in Indian Farming Sector

India’s agricultural sector is undergoing a historic transformation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers Welfare, and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan told Parliament during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha on July 29, 2025. The minister presented a detailed overview of the sector’s progress over the last decade, emphasizing significant gains in production, income support, insurance, mechanisation, and Minimum Support Prices (MSP), all aimed at boosting farmers’ income and strengthening rural resilience.

Six Pillars of Agricultural Development

Shri Chouhan began by outlining six core strategies adopted by the government to ensure comprehensive agricultural development and rural prosperity:

1. Boosting Agricultural Production through technological interventions and enhanced support.

2. Reducing Input Costs to raise farm-level profits.

3. Ensuring Fair Prices for Produce via expanded MSP procurement and marketing reforms.

4. Providing Compensation for Losses through improved insurance coverage.

5. Promoting Diversification into high-value crops, horticulture, fisheries, and livestock.

6. Encouraging Natural Farming and balanced fertiliser use to protect soil health.

These pillars, the minister asserted, were the backbone of the government’s mission to double farmers’ income and build a future-ready, sustainable agricultural economy.

Soaring Production Figures Show Robust Growth

The last ten years have seen a steep rise in agricultural productivity:

• Total crop production rose from 246.42 million tonnes in 2014 to 353.96 million tonnes in 2024.

• Pulse production increased from 16.38 million tonnes to 25.24 million tonnes.

• Oilseed production climbed from 27.51 million tonnes to 42.61 million tonnes.

• Horticultural output jumped from 280.70 million tonnes to 367.72 million tonnes.

• Milk production, powered solely by Indian farmers, has also surged significantly, enhancing nutritional security and rural incomes.

These gains, Chouhan noted, were achieved alongside an expansion of irrigation networks, improved seed quality, and tailored schemes to support diverse agro-climatic zones.

Dramatic Increase in Budgetary Allocation and Institutional Credit

Comparing budgets under successive governments, Shri Chouhan highlighted a nearly five-fold increase in the agriculture budget:

• UPA-era agriculture budget: ₹27,000 crore

• Current allocation under NDA: ₹1.27 lakh crore

He also noted a tripling of institutional credit, rising from ₹7 lakh crore to ₹25 lakh crore, which has helped even marginal farmers gain access to formal finance.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme, ₹6,000 annually is directly transferred to 10 crore farmers, a landmark initiative absent under earlier regimes.

PMFBY Delivers More Than ₹1.8 Lakh Crore in Claims

The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) has been restructured for farmer convenience and efficiency. Under the scheme:

• A premium collection of ₹35,000 crore has resulted in ₹1.83 lakh crore disbursed directly to farmers.

• Delay penalties have been introduced: if insurance companies or states fail to disburse on time, 12% interest is paid to farmers.

To overcome challenges in yield estimation, the government is deploying YESTECH, a satellite-driven, remote-sensing-based system for digital crop loss assessment, which ensures transparency and faster claim settlements.

Mechanisation and Smart Irrigation to Maximise Productivity

To increase productivity and optimise water usage:

• The government is subsidising farm mechanisation, polyhouses, and greenhouses.

• The ‘Per Drop More Crop’ scheme is promoting drip and sprinkler irrigation systems.

• Emphasis is also being laid on high-value horticulture, including vegetables and medicinal plants.

Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) Deliver Greater Incomes

The Centre has committed to ensuring a minimum 50% profit margin over input costs in MSPs. MSP rates have witnessed a sharp increase:

Along with rising MSPs, procurement volumes have soared. Only 6 lakh MT of pulses were procured over a decade under the UPA, compared to 1.82 crore MT under the NDA, proving the Centre’s strong commitment to market support.

Inclusive Schemes for Tenant and Small Farmers

Recognising the challenges faced by tenant farmers and smallholders, the government has:

• Allowed landlords to authorise tenants to claim insurance benefits under PMFBY.

• Recently covered 6.55 lakh tenant and sharecroppers, benefitting over 41.62 lakh farmers in total.

The PM-AASHA scheme ensures the procurement of pulses and oilseeds at full MSP, with robust mechanisms to shield farmers from middlemen.

A Pro-Farmer Future

Summing up, Shri Chouhan declared that Prime Minister Modi is a true friend and well-wisher of farmers, committed to their prosperity, security, and empowerment. With reforms grounded in technology, financial inclusion, and farmer-centric policymaking, the government envisions a modern agricultural economy that is globally competitive and locally sustainable.