Farmers Must Get Quality Inputs: Union Agriculture Minister
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasized the importance of integrated farming for land holdings that are smaller than one hectare. He also highlighted the significance of value addition, diversification into fisheries and cattle rearing, and the stricter oversight of bio-inputs.
At the PHDCCI Agribusiness Summit 2025, Chouhan mentioned the necessity of using fertilisers in a balanced manner to safeguard against soil degradation and preserve the well-being of forthcoming generations.
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“Drawing a comparison with China’s $5 trillion economy, he noted how their farmers act as gardeners, innovators, and precise land managers, achieving superior yields through intensive practices- even in fertiliser use, where India can learn from their effective management to minimise adverse effects while maximising benefits,” Chand adds.
The minister stated that if the prices of horticultural crops drop below a certain level, the government will compensate farmers by providing them with the discrepancy between the model rate and the selling price.
He emphasized the advancements made under the central government, including a 44 percent increase in sugarcane production since 2014, the introduction of 3,300 climate-resistant seeds, and a 36 percent overall boost in production attributed to high-quality seeds, mechanization, and programs such as the minimum support price (MSP) with price-deficiency support funded by both the central government and the states.
Chouhan informed the Rajya Sabha that the NDA government has increased MSPs to twice the cost of production and expanded procurement to four times the levels compared to the UPA government.
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Chouhan highlighted during Question Hour that the UPA government had dismissed the Swaminathan Commission's suggestion for a 50 percent margin over production costs, while the Modi government accepted this recommendation in 2019, providing MSP with a 50 percent margin above the cost of production.
During the same occasion, Ramesh Chand, a member of NITI Aayog, emphasized the importance of enhancing both production and productivity. He highlighted the fact that although India's agricultural workforce is predominantly involved in cultivation, it is imperative to increase output per acre.
Chand made a comparison between China's $5-trillion economy and emphasized the role of Chinese farmers as gardeners, innovators, and precise land managers. He pointed out that they are able to obtain higher yields through meticulous and intensive farming practices, such as efficient use of fertilizers, and suggested that India could benefit from adopting similar methods to optimize agricultural outcomes while reducing negative impacts. This highlights the importance of implementing more sophisticated and detail-oriented farming techniques in order to improve India's agricultural productivity.
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R.G. Agarwal, Chairman Emeritus, Dhanuka Agritech Ltd and Chair, Agribusiness Committee, PHDCCI says, “India’s farmers have always delivered for the nation. Now, it is time we deliver for them—by ensuring they receive the best technologies, knowledge, and support to enhance their productivity and income. This summit reflects a united commitment to empower our annadatas and strengthen India’s agricultural future”.