Buoyed by optimum rainfall, farm sector eyes 4% growth
India is poised to achieve new heights in the production of foodgrains in 2025, driven by favourable monsoon as the country’s agricultural sector shows signs of robust recovery.
India’s agricultural sector is projected to bounce back, with growth projections of 3.5-4 per cent in 2024-25, up from 1.4 per cent in the previous fiscal. Agri-economist S Mahendra Dev attributes this improvement to “good monsoon and rise in rural demand”.
The production of Kharif (summer) foodgrain is estimated at a record 164.7 million tonnes for the 2024-25 crop year, which will end in June 2025. Meanwhile, planting of winter crops has maintained steady progress, with wheat sown across 29.31 million hectares as of mid-December 2024, while rabi (winter) crops covered 55.88 million hectares. “We had a good kharif crop because of normal rainfall,” said Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi.
He further said that overall, the crop prospect for the whole year looks promising. However, he also cautioned against potential heatwave in February-March, which could affect the wheat harvest.
Notably, this growth comes despite localised floods and droughts affecting crops in parts of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Climate change-induced weather anomalies have particularly impacted onion and tomato yields in certain regions. However, the path ahead isn’t without hurdles.
To address the persistent challenge of self-sufficiency in pulses and oilseeds, the government will roll out the National Mission on Edible Oils — Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds) in 2025, backed by a substantial budget of Rs 10,103 crore. The initiative aims to reduce import dependency through targeted interventions and increased support prices.
The horticulture sector has also shown remarkable progress, with record production of fruits and vegetables. The success is attributed to improved farming practices and technology adoption under various government schemes.
The sector is also witnessing increased technological adoption, with drones and AI-driven tools gaining traction. “These innovations offer immense potential to enhance productivity,” said Ashish Dobhal, CEO of UPL Sustainable AgriSolutions.
The government’s flagship PM-KISAN scheme continues to provide crucial support, having disbursed over Rs 3.46 lakh crore to more than 11 crore farmers since its launch in 2018.
Seven new agricultural schemes announced in September 2024, with a combined outlay of Rs 13,966 crore, are set for full implementation in 2025. These initiatives span various aspects of agriculture, including digital transformation, crop science, livestock health, and natural resource management.
However, farmer unrest remains a concern, particularly in Punjab and Haryana, where demands for legal MSP guarantees and other reforms persist.
A parliamentary committee has suggested doubling the PM-KISAN support to Rs 12,000 per beneficiary and implementing universal crop insurance for small farmers. While farmer-producer organisations (FPOs) have expanded with 9,204 registrations, they continue to face challenges, including limited market access and weak managerial capacity, potentially affecting their long-term sustainability.
