What are the Priority Areas of Indian Agriculture that needs Support?

Posted by bookmycrop on September 23rd, 2022

Priority Areas of Indian Agriculture that needs Support:

1.   Improving agricultural output, business viability, and rural development:

Growing the use of cutting-edge tools and improving agricultural study and outreach: One of the most crucial requirements for agricultural development in India is a comprehensive overhaul and strengthening of the country's extension infrastructure as well as agricultural research. Because of the tremendous amount of underfunding of operations as well as infrastructure, little replacement of retiring researchers, and limited access to cutting-edge technologies, these services have steadily deteriorated over time. There is very little new that can be found through research that isn't already available in tired old packages. The public sector's extension services are in a bind, and they don't have much new to teach farmers. Neither research nor extension, nor the private sector, are adequately connected. 

Agriculture in India is the largest user of water, hence proper management of irrigation and drainage systems is essential. The necessity for multi-sectoral planning, river basin, as well as management of water has been brought into focus by the rising rivalry for water among industrial, home, and agricultural uses. Because of rising demands in the industry, households, and agriculture, the amount of water available for irrigation is expected to decrease. We need to figure out how to get far more out of irrigation. Drip irrigation and piped water supply are two examples of more effective delivery methods that could be implemented. 

The usage of groundwater must also be managed, rather than exploited. Efforts to discourage water use by, say, increasing the cost of power or having the community keep tabs on consumption, have not yet achieved widespread success. It is also important to improve cost recovery; (ii) rationalise all the public expenditures by prioritising the completion of schemes that gives the highest possible returns; (iii) allocate sufficient resources for operations and maintenance; and (iv) allocate sufficient resources for operations and maintenance to ensure the sustainability of investments in irrigation and drainage systems. Book My Crop is a unique platform that brings farmers and buyers together for buying and selling agriculture products online in India. 

To encourage farmers to expand their product ranges to include higher-value items, we can use: Particularly in the areas that are dependent on rain and with extreme poverty, encouraging farmers to shift to better-value commodities will be a crucial driver for increased agricultural growth. And there's a lot of room for agro-processing to grow and for competitive value chains to be established from farms to cities to overseas markets. Farmers and business owners should take the lead on diversification efforts, but the government may help by easing regulations on things like distribution and processing. It can also serve a limited regulatory role, however, care must be taken to prevent this from becoming a barrier. 

Agricultural sub-sectors with considerable growth potential include the dairy industry, which needs to be supported. Over a quarter of India's agricultural GDP comes from the livestock industry, mostly because of dairy, and it provides a living for 70% of rural families, most of which are low-income and headed by women. Milk output has increased rapidly, by around 4% annually, while domestic consumption is forecast to increase by a minimum of 5% annually in the years to come. However, milk output is limited by a variety of variables, including genetically low-quality cows, a lack of feed, and a lack of veterinary care. Reduced poverty and increased output would likely result from a programme specifically designed to address these bottlenecks. 

India's history of heavy government engagement in agri-marketing has led to trade barriers both domestically and internationally, making the distribution and sale of agricultural products difficult and expensive. Investment from the private sector in areas such as advertising, supply networks, and food processing is on the rise, albeit at a far slower rate than it could be. Although certain limitations are being removed, much more must be done to facilitate diversification and reduce prices for consumers. Because it is still so hard for farmers to secure credit, there is also a need to make rural finance more accessible to them. Further, power, fertiliser, and irrigation subsidies have gradually grown to dominate government spending in the sector, and today are almost four times greater than investment expenditures, which has pushed aside other important priorities like agricultural research and extension. Are you a bulk buyer or wholesaler of agri-products looking to buy agriculture products online, Book My Crop is an excellent platform to buy-sell agriculture products, market them and get the needed exposure as well as grab the attention of buyers across the globe.

2.   Community initiatives and the reduction of poverty:

Even though agricultural expansion will lay the groundwork for higher wages for the roughly 170 million rural BPL (below the poverty line), residents, supplementary efforts are needed to ensure that everyone benefits from this expansion. For instance, it has been determined that a rural livelihoods programme that helps people set themselves up for success is ideally suited for expansion. Increased community savings and support for local initiatives to boost incomes and jobs are two of the many positive outcomes of this programme. By joining together to form larger organisations, poor communities are able to exert more influence over their local governments and secure better economic and social conditions for their members, as well as better access to markets for their goods. Women and low-income families can benefit the most from these self-help groups. Are you a farmer looking to sell agriculture products online in India? Book My Crop is the right place for you to market your crops and attract potential buyers.

3.   Preserving natural resources and ensuring the continued success of the agricultural sector:

Due to over-pumping, groundwater levels are decreasing in several regions of India, threatening agricultural production. However, in some irrigated regions, water-logging is causing soil salts to accumulate. Most of the rural population relies on rain-fed agriculture, so farmers there need to change their methods to prevent soil erosion and make the most of the water they receive. The overuse and degradation of forest land necessitate preventative action. Practically all of these issues have tried and true answers. The most thorough approach is watershed management programmes, in which communities plan their land use and implement agricultural methods that preserve soil health, boost water absorption, and boost productivity through increased yields and diversified cropping. 

The question, though, is how to expand the reach of such programmes to more regions of the country. The impact of climate change is another factor to consider. Droughts, floods, and unpredictable rain patterns are all predicted to become more common, with the biggest impact felt in areas that rely on precipitation from the sky. With the help of certain initiatives by agricultural extension as well as research, the watershed programme may be the best agricultural programme for fostering the development of novel crop types and enhanced farming techniques. Nonetheless, it's possible that other initiatives, including the livelihoods programme and the growth of non-farm jobs, are equally crucial.