Indian Agriculture Must Embrace Nature-Friendly Practices to Tackle Climate Change: Dr Himanshu Pathak at MFOI Awards 2024

"Indian agriculture is vast; it’s more than just a sector—it’s a culture, a business, and a way of life," remarked Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary-DARE and Director General of ICAR, during his keynote address at the Millionaire Farmer of India (MFOI) Awards 2024. The event, organized by Krishi Jagran, co-hosted by ICAR, and sponsored by Mahindra Tractors, commenced today (December 01, 2024) with great fervor at the iconic IARI Grounds in Pusa, New Delhi. The event celebrates the achievements of progressive farmers and showcases the latest innovations in agriculture.

Dr. Pathak highlighted the crucial role of agriculture in India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047. He highlighted the country’s remarkable transformation from being a food-deficient nation reliant on imports to achieving self-sufficiency and emerging as a key global exporter of agricultural produce. "Today, India not only exports to the world but also supports poorer nations with affordable or free food supplies," he noted, underscoring India's commitment to global food security.

Identifying pressing challenges faced by the sector, Dr. Pathak addressed issues such as the impacts of climate change, market fluctuations, and technological gaps. “ICAR is actively working on solutions through agricultural research, knowledge sharing, and innovation,” he remarked, emphasizing the critical role of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in this transformation.

Dr. Pathak asserted, “India cannot become a developed country, Viksit Bharat, by 2047 unless Indian agriculture develops first.” To achieve this, Pathak outlined five key principles for the future of agriculture: “First, agriculture must be nature-friendly. Second, it must embrace technology; while we develop 300 to 400 crop varieties annually, the focus now is on making every variety resilient to climate change. Third, agriculture must be market-friendly. Fourth, it must be gender and youth-friendly- something appealing to the younger generation. Finally, Indian agriculture must stay culture-friendly means Indian agriculture must also remain deeply rooted in our cultural values while embracing modern practices”

The MFOI Awards serves as a vibrant platform for agricultural leaders, innovators, and policymakers to converge and discuss transformative solutions for farming. Esteemed dignitaries such as Prof. Ramesh Chand from NITI Aayog, Bharat Bhushan Tyagi, Padma Shri awardee, Ajay Mishra, Former MoS of Home Affairs , Dr. JACS Rao, Chief Conservator of Forests and CEO of the Chhattisgarh Medicinal Plant Board, and other visionaries also graced the occasion, reflecting the collective commitment to revolutionize the agricultural sector.

Dr. Pathak’s call for a unified and progressive approach underlines the need for collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure Indian agriculture's robust and sustainable growth, reinforcing its role as the backbone of a self-reliant and developed India.