NITI Aayog Highlights Importance of Enhancing Ease in Farming Activities

The NITI Aayog has emphasized the need to encourage competition among states in order to enhance farming activities and related businesses. This approach is seen as crucial for agriculture to play a significant role in India's journey towards becoming a developed nation, achieving inclusive development, promoting sustainable growth, and generating gainful employment.

The federal policy think tank published a working paper titled "From Green Revolution to Amrit Kaal: Lessons and the Way Forward for Indian Agriculture," authored by NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand and consultant Jaspal Singh. The paper outlines various measures to promote the agricultural sector.

As per the report, the authors highlighted that climate change and the degradation of natural resources are the two major challenges facing the planet. They emphasized that the type and methods of farming have a significant impact on these challenges. The authors made a strong case for attracting fresh investments into the sector and increasing the involvement of the private sector.

The report also stressed the need for a paradigm shift in the approach to the agriculture sector to achieve significant and sustained increases in farmers' income and the transformation of agriculture. The authors suggested that changes in regulations, liberalization of the sector, and a more enabling environment are necessary to foster a modern and vibrant agriculture sector during the next 25 years, referred to as the "Amrit Kaal."

To address the challenges of the 21st century and contribute to India's goal of becoming a developed economy, the report recommended an increased role for the private sector in both pre and post-harvest phases, liberalized output markets, an active land lease market, and a focus on efficiency.

The report highlighted that the future progress of agriculture requires coordinated action and strategies between central and state governments. It emphasized the importance of a well-coordinated approach to ensure the development of agriculture alongside other sectors.

To modernize agriculture, the report suggested the introduction and promotion of knowledge-intensive practices, private and corporate sector investments, the establishment of new producer institutions, integrated food system-based mechanisms, and new linkages between producers and end users. These changes would necessitate liberalization of the agriculture sector, including a facilitative regulatory environment and responsible public and private investments.