17 Sep Sustainable Agriculture: Policies, Practices, and Challenges
This article covers “Daily Current Affairs” and Topic details ” Sustainable Agriculture: Policies, Practices, and Challenges
SYLLABUS MAPPING:
GS-3- Agriculture & Environment – Sustainable Agriculture: Policies, Practices, and Challenges
FOR PRELIMS
What are the key practices promoted under sustainable agriculture in India?
FOR MAINS
What are the major challenges in promoting sustainable agriculture in India? Suggest policy and technological measures to overcome them.
Why in the News?
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, while addressing the National Agriculture Conference – Rabi Abhiyan 2025 in New Delhi, announced that India’s agriculture sector is growing at 3.7% – the highest in the world. Highlighting the government’s commitment to farmer welfare, he assured strict action against spurious seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, and stressed that only biostimulants meeting set standards would be permitted. The two-day conference, themed “One Nation – One Agriculture – One Team”, underlines Centre–State cooperation to boost productivity and ensure the prosperity of farmers.
What is Sustainable Agriculture?
Sustainable agriculture is an approach to farming that balances productivity with ecological health, economic viability, and social equity. It ensures that present needs are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. This approach integrates traditional wisdom with modern science to conserve resources while ensuring food security. Defined by FAO as farming that “meets the needs of present and future generations while ensuring profitability, environmental health, and social equity.”
Various Practices
1. Organic Farming: Avoids chemical fertilizers and pesticides, relying on natural inputs to maintain soil fertility and ecological balance. India has 4.4 million organic farmers (largest in the world – FiBL 2023).
2. Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF): Reduces cost of cultivation by using local bio-inputs like jeevamrut instead of chemical fertilizers. Popular in Andhra Pradesh, reduces input costs, adopted by 80 lakh farmers nationwide under different models.
3. Crop Diversification: Growing multiple crops in the same season to reduce risks of pest attacks and market shocks. India promoted millets in 2023 (International Year of Millets); bajra, ragi, and jowar need less water and improve nutrition.
4. Agroforestry: Integrating trees with crops and livestock to improve soil health, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration. National Agroforestry Policy 2014 promotes poplar and eucalyptus cultivation in Haryana and UP.
5. Water-Smart Techniques: Drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting; PMKSY covers 13 million hectares under micro-irrigation.
Why We Need Sustainable Agriculture
1. Land degradation: Nearly 30% of India’s land is degraded (ISRO 2021).
2. Water crisis: Agriculture uses 80% of India’s freshwater; Punjab and Haryana face severe groundwater depletion.
3. Climate change: IPCC estimates India may face up to 10–40% crop yield losses by 2100 if unsustainable practices continue.
4. Health concerns: Pesticide overuse has caused soil toxicity and farmer health issues (e.g., Punjab’s “cancer train”).
5. Food security: With population expected to peak at 1.7 billion by 2060, sustainable farming is essential to feed future generations.
Government Policies to Enhance Sustainable Agriculture
1. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): Promotes organic farming; 7.88 lakh hectares covered.
2. National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): Focus on climate-resilient practices.
3. Soil Health Card Scheme: Distributed over 23 crore cards since 2015, helping farmers balance fertiliser use.
4. PM-KUSUM Scheme: Promotes solar-powered irrigation, reducing diesel/electricity use.
5. Millet Promotion: India declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets, boosting global millet trade.
6. APEDA’s MRA (Mutual Recognition Agreement) with Taiwan (2024): First bilateral pact for organic product trade, boosting exports of rice, tea, and medicinal plants.
Issues in Enhancing Sustainable Agriculture
1. High Transition Costs: Organic/Natural farming requires initial investment and yields may decline temporarily.
2. Market Access: Lack of assured MSP or premium pricing for organic crops.
3. Awareness Gap: Only a small fraction of farmers know about schemes like PKVY or ZBNF.
4. Fragmented Landholdings: Over 86% farmers are small/marginal, limiting economies of scale.
5. Certification Hurdles: Lengthy, expensive certification processes for organic produce.
6. Dependence on Subsidies: Chemical fertilisers still heavily subsidised (~₹1.75 lakh crore in 2023–24), discouraging organic adoption.
Way Forward
1. Policy Alignment: Rebalance subsidies to favour organic, bio-fertilizers, and drip irrigation instead of urea.
2. Market Incentives: Assured procurement/MSP for sustainable crops like millets, pulses, and oilseeds.
3. Agri-Tech Integration: Use drones, IoT, AI for precision farming; e-NAM to connect organic farmers with buyers.
4. Capacity Building: Expand Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs); target 10,000 FPOs by 2027 for collective bargaining.
5. Global Trade Opportunities: India already exports USD 1.5 billion worth of organic products (APEDA, 2022); scope to expand to Taiwan, EU, and Gulf markets.
6. Climate-Smart Practices: Encourage resilient varieties and carbon credit models, aligning with India’s net-zero by 2070 goal.
Conclusion
Sustainable agriculture is the backbone of India’s food and ecological security. With rising population, shrinking resources, and climate stress, the shift towards eco-friendly, farmer-centric practices is urgent. Government schemes, global partnerships, and grassroots innovations provide momentum, but widespread adoption will depend on strong incentives and awareness. By combining traditional wisdom with modern science, India can ensure farming that not only feeds its people but also safeguards its soil, water, and biodiversity for generations to come.
Prelims question:
Q. Consider the following initiatives in India:
1. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
2. Soil Health Card Scheme
3. PM-KUSUM Scheme
4. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
Which of the above are directly aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture practices?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4 only
ANSWER: B
Mains Question:
Q. “Sustainable agriculture is not just an environmental necessity but also an economic and social imperative for India.” Discuss in the context of India’s agricultural challenges and government initiatives.
(250 words)
- United Nations in the 21st Century: Relevance, Crisis, and Way Forward - September 22, 2025
- Election Commission of India: Strengthening the Democratic Backbone - September 20, 2025
- India’s Renewable Energy Journey: Towards Energy Self-Reliance and Climate Leadership - September 19, 2025
No Comments