Agriculture continues to remain the backbone of India’s economy and livelihoods, employing 46.1% of the workforce, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023–24 conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO). As per the National Accounts Statistics 2025, the agriculture sector contributed 17.8% to India’s GDP in FY 2023–24. To further strengthen this vital sector, the Government of India has rolled out a series of flagship schemes aimed at enhancing farm productivity, sustainability, and farmer profitability.
One of the key programmes is the National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM), currently implemented in 28 States and 2 Union Territories including Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The mission seeks to increase foodgrain production through area expansion and productivity improvement. Farmers are supported with incentives for adopting modern technologies, using certified seeds of new varieties and hybrids, implementing integrated nutrient and pest management, adopting improved farm tools, resource conservation machinery, and water-saving devices. Training and capacity-building initiatives further help farmers improve efficiency during cropping seasons.
To ensure farmers have access to quality planting material, the Government regularly advises States and seed-producing agencies to place indents for high-yielding varieties (HYVs) and climate-resilient crop varieties developed by ICAR institutes and State Agricultural Universities. These include drought, flood, and salinity-tolerant varieties, which are multiplied into foundation and certified seeds before being distributed to farmers. This initiative ensures farmers can access advanced seed varieties that enhance productivity and resilience against climate challenges.
In the field of mechanization, the Government is implementing the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) to extend the reach of modern farm machinery to small and marginal farmers, especially in regions with low farm power availability. Financial assistance is provided for the purchase of machinery, including tractors, and for setting up Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs), High-Tech Hubs, and Farm Machinery Banks (FMBs). These initiatives reduce the burden of high ownership costs and make advanced machinery accessible even to small landholders.
Water-use efficiency is another major focus area. Since 2015–16, the Centrally Sponsored Scheme ‘Per Drop More Crop’ (PDMC) has been promoting micro-irrigation techniques such as drip and sprinkler systems. These methods save water, reduce fertilizer and labour costs, and increase crop yields. An evaluation by NITI Aayog in 2021 found that adoption of micro-irrigation under PDMC led to productivity gains ranging from 9% to 100% across different crops and states.
Through these initiatives, the Government is not only enhancing farm productivity but also ensuring sustainability, profitability, and resilience in Indian agriculture. Together, these efforts are enabling farmers to adopt modern technologies, reduce input costs, and achieve better incomes, thereby reinforcing agriculture’s role as a driver of inclusive growth in the country.
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