India Path to “Viksit Bharat 2047” Through Agri-Food System Transformation
NEW DELHI – As India aims to become a developed nation by 2047, a new report argues that the country must move beyond its traditional focus on maximizing crop yields and undertake a complete transformation of its agri-food systems. This shift is essential to address the paradox of being “food secure” yet “nutritionally vulnerable.”
The report, authored by Shalander Kumar, an agricultural economist, highlights that for over five decades, India’s agricultural policy has been optimized for high yields and price stabilization, a legacy of the Green Revolution. While this approach has ensured food security, it has also led to critical challenges, including:
• Soil degradation in one-third of agricultural land.
• Water stress in over half of the country’s districts.
• Nutritional deficiencies across all income groups, despite surplus food production.
The Agri-Food Systems Framework
The report advocates for a new framework that simultaneously optimizes for three critical dimensions: economic viability for farmers, human health outcomes, and environmental sustainability. This approach recognizes that the food system encompasses the entire journey from farm to plate.
The transformation is built on four key pillars:
• Research Reorientation: Shifting from a focus on individual crops to integrated systems that develop holistic solutions. This includes using digital innovations like AI and IoT to accelerate research and decision-making.
• Policy Repurposing: Redirecting subsidies away from unsustainable practices toward climate-resilient infrastructure and market-driven incentives for producing nutritious and sustainable food.
• Institutional Innovations: Strengthening farmer-producer organizations (FPOs/FPCs) and self-help groups (SHGs) to become vehicles for agricultural transformation.
• Cross-sectoral Convergence: Breaking down silos and fostering unprecedented coordination across government departments—from agriculture and water resources to health and nutrition.
A Path to a Sustainable Future
The report suggests that implementing this systemic change is crucial for achieving the vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047,” which aims to make India a developed nation by the 100th anniversary of its independence. It also offers a significant opportunity for India to become a global leader in sustainable food production.
The report highlights that initiatives like the recently launched Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), which targets 100 low-performing agricultural districts, could be a starting point for mainstreaming this new approach. The transformation is not just about producing more, but about creating a system that is economically viable, environmentally sustainable, and ensures nutritional security for all citizens.