India’s agricultural productiveness has recorded a gentle rise regardless of a decline in common landholding dimension, based on knowledge introduced by the federal government. As per the Agriculture Census 2015–16 performed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the typical dimension of operational holdings fell to 1.08 hectares from 1.15 hectares in 2010–11.
Rising Output Regardless of Shrinking Landholdings
Nevertheless, whole meals grain manufacturing on the all-India degree elevated considerably from 265.0 million tonnes in 2013–14 to 357.7 million tonnes in 2024–25. Equally, horticulture manufacturing rose from 277.4 million tonnes to 369.1 million tonnes throughout the identical interval, as per the third advance estimates, based on an official assertion from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare dated March 27, 2026.
Authorities Push for Diversification and Earnings Progress
To make sure optimum use of land and enhance farm incomes, the federal government stated the the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has rolled out a number of initiatives centered on crop diversification, elevated cropping depth and improve farmer’s earnings.
Underneath schemes such because the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and the Crop Diversification Programme, states are being supported to undertake region-specific high-value crops, pulses, oilseeds, and horticultural crops. Different key programmes embody Soil Well being & Fertility (SH&F), Mission for Built-in Growth of Horticulture (MIDH), Nationwide Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oil Palm and Oilseeds, Mission for Atmanirbharta in Pulses, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) for natural and sustainable farming, and Rainfed Space Growth (RAD), which inspires farmers to undertake climate-resilient and diversified cropping techniques.
ICAR’s Position in Expertise and Local weather Resilience
Additional, the Ministry stated the Indian Council of Agricultural Analysis (ICAR) conducts analysis programme to develop location particular varieties for enhancing the manufacturing, productiveness of farmholdings and initiated a number of technological measures to extend the realm beneath cultivation. These embody location-specific options akin to bio-engineering to test soil erosion attributable to run-off of rainwater, sand dune stabilisation, shelter belt know-how to test wind erosion, and reclamation methods for problematic soils within the nation.
ICAR has additionally developed the gypsum-based know-how package deal, which incorporates land levelling, bunding, flushing, elimination of extra water, use of high quality irrigation water, utility of amendments, crop choice, and environment friendly nutrient administration. Moreover, to handle local weather change impacts, ICAR launched 2,900 crop varieties between 2014 and 2024, of which 2,661 are tolerant to a number of biotic and/or abiotic stresses.
FPO Scheme Strengthens Small Farmers
In a bid to strengthen small and marginal farmers, the Centre has been implementing a Central Sector Scheme since 2020 for the formation and promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). The initiative goals to mixture farmers into collectives, enhancing their bargaining energy, leverage economies of scale, cut back value of manufacturing and improve farmers’ incomes via aggregation of their agricultural produce.
Underneath the scheme, every FPO is eligible for monetary help of as much as Rs 18 lakh over three years. Moreover, matching fairness grants of as much as Rs 2,000 per farmer member (capped at Rs 15 lakh per FPO) and a credit score assure facility of as much as Rs 2 crore are supplied to enhance entry to institutional finance. Cluster-Based mostly Enterprise Organisations (CBBOs) are additionally supported with Rs 25 lakh per FPO for handholding over 5 years.
“Presently 10,000 FPOs have been registered beneath the stated scheme. These initiatives have empowered thousands and thousands of small and marginal farmers to beat the constraints of shrinking landholdings by enabling collective farming, enter procurement, worth addition and higher market entry,” the Ministry stated.
The knowledge was supplied by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ramnath Thakur, in a written reply within the Rajya Sabha.
