The imperative

The Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA) said India must increase its food production by nearly 70 per cent by 2050 to meet the demands of a projected population of 1.6 billion. FAIFA emphasised that agriculture will play a critical role in ensuring food security amid rising population pressures.

A FAIFA white paper, released ahead of Kisan Divas, outlined a four-pillar strategy to strengthen Indian agriculture, focusing on productivity, sustainability, exports, and farmer-centric reforms.

The four-pillar roadmap

Pillar 1 — Research & Sustainability: Investment of Rs 10,000 crore between 2026 and 2030 to bring five million hectares under natural farming and permaculture-based practices.

Pillar 2 — Export Diversification: Expansion of cold-chain facilities, agri-export zones, and value addition in high-value crops, with a target of achieving $100 billion in agricultural exports through 50 agri-export zones.

Pillar 3 — Non-GMO Integrity: Allocation of Rs 5,000 crore over five years to expand indigenous seed varieties by 50 per cent and develop 100 climate-resilient non-GMO crops.

Pillar 4 — Agricultural Financing: Enhanced institutional credit disbursement of Rs 50 lakh crore by 2028, supporting 50 million small and marginal farmers through AI-driven digital lending platforms.