India's agriculture sector has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past 12 years, driven by higher public investment, record foodgrain production, expanded irrigation, improved access to credit and a stronger safety net for farmers. According to a government paper titled Empowering India's Annadatas, agricultural policy has evolved from a welfare-centric approach to a broader strategy focused on productivity, market access, income security and resilience. Agriculture and allied activities continue to remain a key pillar of the Indian economy, accounting for nearly 18% of the country's Gross Value Added (GVA).
The sector's GVA has more than doubled from ₹20.9 lakh crore in 2014-15 to ₹48.7 lakh crore in 2023-24, reflecting sustained growth over the last decade. Total foodgrain output has increased from 265.05 million tonnes in 2013-14 to a record 357.73 million tonnes in 2024-25. Rice production touched an all-time high of 150.18 million tonnes in 2024-25, making India the world's largest rice producer, while wheat output reached a record 117.94 million tonnes. Maize production nearly doubled over the decade to 43.4 million tonnes. As per Prime Minister Narendra Modi, these initiatives have made farmers the bedrock of the country's food security, nutrition and prosperity. Fish production has nearly doubled during the same period, while poultry production, honey production and ethanol manufacturing have also recorded significant growth.
Government spending on agriculture has witnessed a sharp increase, with budgetary allocation for the department of agriculture and farmers welfare rising from ₹27,663 crore in 2013-14 to over ₹1.40 lakh crore in 2026-27. Key policy interventions include the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, which provides annual income support of ₹6,000 to eligible farmers, and has disbursed more than ₹4.28 lakh crore to over 9.44 crore farmer families since its launch. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) for crop insurance has expanded with claims worth ₹1.96 lakh crore paid to farmers till December 2025. The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) focuses on expanding irrigation coverage, while the Kisan Credit Card programme has seen ground-level credit flow rise from ₹7.3 lakh crore in 2013-14 to ₹28.67 lakh crore in 2024-25. The oilseeds sector has shown substantial gains, with production rising from 27.5 million tonnes in 2014-15 to nearly 43 million tonnes in 2024-25, helping reduce India's dependence on imported edible oils.
Beyond production, the government has strengthened farmers' financial security through expanded procurement operations and higher Minimum Support Prices (MSP). The value of procurement at MSP reached ₹26.32 lakh crore during 2014-26, around 3.5 times higher than during the previous decade. Total procurement of wheat, paddy, pulses, oilseeds and cotton increased from 698.7 million tonnes during 2004-14 to 1,229.2 million tonnes during 2014-26. Technology and digitisation are becoming increasingly integrated into agricultural administration and farm operations. Under the Digital Agriculture Mission, more than 7.63 crore farmer IDs have been created and around 23.5 crore crop plots digitised. New initiatives such as Namo Drone Didi, Kisan e-Mitra and the National Pest Surveillance System are being used to improve farm services, monitoring and productivity. The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, e-NAM digital trading platform, Soil Health Card scheme and National Mission on Edible Oils are other major initiatives that have transformed the sector's operational efficiency.
While challenges such as climate variability, fragmented landholdings and market volatility continue to affect the sector, the government argues that the last decade has laid the foundation for a more diversified and resilient agricultural ecosystem. As India seeks to become a developed economy by 2047, agriculture remains central to that ambition, with nearly half the country's population still dependent on farming and allied activities for their livelihoods. The broader objective is to create a technology-driven, farmer-centric agricultural system capable of delivering higher incomes, greater sustainability and long-term food security for the country. India remains the world's largest milk producer, with milk production rising from 146.31 million tonnes in 2014-15 to 247.87 million tonnes in 2024-25. The sector has evolved beyond a narrow focus on crop production towards a broader ecosystem that includes technology adoption, infrastructure creation, value addition, food processing, exports and allied sectors, with livestock, dairy and fisheries emerging as increasingly important contributors to rural incomes and agricultural growth.
