India Leads Global Agriculture: Food Self-Sufficient

India has cemented its position as a global agricultural leader, achieving remarkable food self-sufficiency. Foodgrain production has seen a substantial increase, rising from 50.8 million tonnes in 1950-51 to 376.5 million tonnes by 2025-26. Horticulture production now exceeds 370 million tonnes.

This agricultural prowess extends to exports, which have grown significantly. Agri exports soared from Rs 55,000 crore in 2001 to Rs 4.3 lakh crore in 2024-25. With rice exports alone valued at Rs 1.05 lakh crore, India now leads the world in rice exports.

The sector has demonstrated resilience, maintaining an average annual growth rate of 4.4 per cent over the past seven years, even amidst adverse weather. Increased budgetary allocations and the release of 3,821 high-yielding crop varieties by ICAR have been crucial.

Looking ahead, with India's population projected to exceed 1.6 billion by 2047, the agricultural sector must increasingly adopt technology to meet escalating food demands, requiring collaborative efforts from all stakeholders.