Why in NEWS
At the 16th Agriculture Leadership Conclave, the Union Minister highlighted major reforms driving agricultural growth—ranging from soil health and credit access to digital tech and global trade.
Key Concepts & Definitions
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| MSP | Minimum Support Price – government-guaranteed price to protect farmers from market volatility |
| Soil Health Card (SHC) | A card issued to farmers with recommendations on nutrient management for their land |
| Kisan Credit Card (KCC) | Scheme offering short-term formal credit to farmers at subsidized interest rates |
| e-NAM | Electronic National Agriculture Market – online trading platform for agri-commodities |
| FPO | Farmer Producer Organisation – a collective of farmers to enhance bargaining power and market access |
Initiatives Fueling Agricultural Growth
| Initiative | Description |
|---|---|
| MSP Hikes | Up to 98% increase for pulses and oilseeds; improves price assurance |
| Soil Health Cards | 25+ crore distributed to guide fertilizer use and increase yield |
| Kisan Credit Card (KCC) | 7.75 crore active accounts; Rs 9.81 lakh crore disbursed; now includes fisheries & animal husbandry |
| PM-KISAN | ₹6,000 annual income support to landholding farmers; 11.8 crore beneficiaries via DBT |
| e-NAM Integration | 1,400 mandis linked for transparent and unified online trading |
| Fertiliser Subsidies | Rs 1.67 lakh crore allocated for FY 2025–26 (40% of India’s total subsidy spend) |
| Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) | Access to new global markets through FTAs with UAE, Australia, UK, EFTA |
| Digital Agriculture | Digital Agri Mission 2024 launched with AgriStack, AI, satellite tech, and crop analytics |
| Support to FPOs | 10,000 FPOs target; 30 lakh farmers (40% women) covered with credit, training, and infrastructure |
| Agri-Exports Push | FY24 exports at Rs 4.5 lakh crore with target of Rs 20 lakh crore |
| Infrastructure & Irrigation | 96.97 lakh ha under micro-irrigation (PDMC); Agri Infra Fund extended for cold chains, warehouses |
Outcomes of Agricultural Reforms
| Metric | Progress Achieved |
|---|---|
| Sector Growth (FY17–FY23) | 5% annual growth in agriculture & allied sectors |
| GVA Share | Increased from 24.38% (2014–15) to 30.23% (2022–23) |
| Farmer Incomes | Rose at 5.23% annually over the past 10 years |
| Agri Exports (FY24) | USD 46.44 billion, 11.7% of total Indian exports |
| Processed Food Share | Rose from 14.9% (FY18) to 23.4% (FY24) |
In a Nutshell
Mnemonic: FARM GROWTH
- Fertiliser support
- Access to credit (KCC)
- Remunerative MSP
- Market linkage via e-NAM
- Global FTAs
- Rural infra & irrigation
- Organised FPOs
- Welfare via PM-KISAN
- Tech adoption (Digital Ag)
- Healthy soil via SHCs
Prelims Practice Questions
- Which of the following schemes provides income support to farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer?
A. PM-KUSUM
B. PM-KISAN
C. e-NAM
D. PDMC - What is the purpose of Soil Health Cards (SHCs)?
A. Offer insurance to farmers
B. Recommend suitable fertilizers based on soil condition
C. Provide price support
D. Enable access to credit - Which of the following is not a component of the Digital Agriculture Mission 2024?
A. AgriStack
B. Weather forecasting
C. Free crop insurance
D. AI and geospatial technologies
Mains Practice Questions
- India’s agriculture sector is transforming with a blend of welfare and innovation.
Discuss the role of recent government initiatives in this transformation. (UPSC GS3) - What are the major digital interventions in India’s agriculture policy?
Analyze their impact on productivity, market access, and sustainability.
Prelims Answer Key with Explanation
| Q. No | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | PM-KISAN provides ₹6,000 per year through DBT |
| 2 | B | SHCs give tailored fertilizer advice based on soil health |
| 3 | C | Free crop insurance is not part of Digital Agriculture Mission 2024 |
