Introduction Agriculture forms the backbone of the Indian economy, employing nearly half of the workforce and contributing significantly to rural livelihoods. However, India’s agricultural landscape has long been dominated by a few staple crops—primarily rice and wheat—especially since the Green Revolution. While this revolution ensured food security, it also led to regional crop concentration, soil…
Introduction Agriculture remains the backbone of India’s economy, employing nearly 50% of the workforce and contributing significantly to the nation’s GDP. Despite its central role, farmers often face low productivity, crop losses due to pests and diseases, climate-related challenges, and market uncertainties, leading to a precarious standard of living. In recent decades, biotechnology has emerged…
Introduction Water is the lifeline of agriculture, and efficient irrigation is crucial for enhancing crop productivity, farmer income, and food security. India, with its vast agricultural landscape, is heavily dependent on monsoon rainfall, which is often erratic and unevenly distributed. To address water scarcity, optimize irrigation, and ensure sustainable agricultural growth, the Government of India…
Introduction Irrigation is a cornerstone of India’s agricultural development and food security. Efficient irrigation infrastructure ensures timely water availability, improved crop yields, and enhanced rural livelihoods. Despite India having a large network of canals, reservoirs, and tanks, many irrigation projects were slow to complete due to resource constraints, delays in funding, and technical challenges. To…
Introduction Water is one of the most critical resources for agriculture, and India, being heavily dependent on monsoon rainfall, faces significant challenges in efficient water management. A large proportion of India’s cultivated land suffers from water scarcity, over-extraction of groundwater, and inefficient irrigation practices. To address these issues, the Government of India launched the National…
Introduction Agriculture in India is heavily dependent on rainfall, with nearly 60% of cultivated land classified as rainfed areas. These regions often face erratic rainfall, poor soil fertility, low productivity, and higher vulnerability to climate shocks. Farmers in rainfed areas encounter income insecurity, crop failure, indebtedness, and rural distress, which affect livelihoods and the overall…
Introduction India’s agriculture and rural economy heavily depend on water availability and watershed management, especially in rainfed regions, which constitute nearly 60% of cultivated land. Inadequate water management leads to soil erosion, low productivity, and rural distress. To address these challenges, the Government of India launched the Neeranchal Watershed Management Programme (NWMP) in 2018 as…
Introduction Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy, employing nearly 50% of the population and contributing significantly to GDP and rural livelihoods. Despite its importance, Indian farmers have long faced challenges such as low productivity, inadequate infrastructure, market volatility, debt burden, and climate-related risks. To address these issues, the Government of India established the…
Introduction Agriculture continues to be the backbone of India’s economy, contributing significantly to GDP, employment, and food security. Recognizing the need for accelerated agricultural growth, the Government of India launched the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) in 2007–08. This scheme is a centrally sponsored program aimed at enhancing investment in agriculture and allied sectors, promoting…
Introduction Horticulture plays a pivotal role in India’s agricultural landscape, contributing significantly to nutrition, employment, and rural income. India is blessed with diverse agro-climatic zones suitable for a wide range of fruits, vegetables, spices, flowers, and plantation crops. Despite this potential, the horticulture sector faced challenges such as fragmented farms, post-harvest losses, inadequate irrigation, and…