The minister promoted supporting small farmers via integrated farming, diversification into fish and cattle, crop value addition, prudent fertilizer use, and stricter bio-input regulations ensuring quality and safety
New Delhi
India’s agriculture sector has witnessed remarkable growth under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Monday. Speaking at the Agribusiness Summit 2025, Chouhan highlighted a 44 per cent rise in sugarcane production since 2014, attributing the success to modern farming methods and government initiatives.
The minister emphasized supporting small farmers, especially those with less than one hectare of land, through integrated farming models. He encouraged diversification into fish and cattle farming, value addition of crops, and careful use of fertilizers to protect the soil for future generations. Bio-input regulations have been tightened, reducing the number of approved producers from 30,000 to 8,000, ensuring quality and safety.
Ramesh Chand of NITI Aayog noted the need to improve both production and productivity. Comparing India with China, he said Chinese farmers act as innovators and careful land managers, achieving higher yields with precise farming techniques. India could adopt similar strategies to improve output while minimizing negative effects of fertilizer use.
RG Agarwal, PHDCCI agribusiness committee chair, said farmers have always served the nation, and now it is time to support them with better technology, knowledge, and resources to increase income and efficiency.
Rahul Dhanuka, managing director of Dhanuka Agritech, highlighted India’s low usage of agricultural medicines compared to global standards, though misuse persists in some regions.
The summit focused on “Tripling Agricultural GDP Using New Technology and Quality Inputs,” bringing together policymakers, farmers, and industry leaders to explore innovative solutions. Experts emphasized that modern tools, smart farming, and proper support can transform agriculture, making it more productive, sustainable, and profitable for Indian farmers.
