Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday emphasised the transformative role played by the One District One Product scheme in the context of Uttar Pradesh, saying the state's exports under this scheme have touched Rs 2 lakh crore.

Adityanath was speaking at an event at the Awadh Shilpgram here after inaugurating a programme to celebrate 'Uttar Pradesh Diwas'.

 

During his address to the attendees of the event, the chief minister highlighted the significance of the Uttar Pradesh Foundation Day as a potent platform for realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision.

Speaking about the impact of the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme, launched in 2018, on the state's growth, Adityanath said Uttar Pradesh has so far exported ODOPs worth Rs 2 lakh crore.

 

He also launched the 'ODOP Mart Portal' for e-marketing of ODOP products.

He mentioned that 96 lakh MSME units are operational in the Uttar Pradesh, providing employment to 40 lakh people returned to their native places in the state during the COVID period, according to an official statement.

The government is extending a security insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh to MSME units in the state in case of accidents or disasters, he added.

Adityanath pointed out that the world recognised the potential of Uttar Pradesh through the International Trade Show organised in Noida last year, which attracted more than 500 foreign buyers.

 

The chief minister said on the third foundation day of the state under his tenure, the government implemented a new apprenticeship scheme, resulting in the participation of lakhs of youth.

Reflecting on the state's economic condition before 2017, Adityanath remarked, 'After 2017, when the double engine government started functioning, a better security environment was created in the state.' 'Today, the results are evident. The youth, entrepreneurs, and businessmen of Uttar Pradesh no longer need to conceal their identity within the country,' the statement quoted him as saying.

He emphasised that Uttar Pradesh has fortified its economic position over the last seven years, witnessing improvements in infrastructure and connectivity.

 

On this occasion, Adityanath honoured Lucknow-based scientist Ritu Karidhal Srivastava and Naveen Tiwari of Kanpur with the prestigious Uttar Pradesh Gaurav Samman award.

Dr Srivastava played an important role in the development of India's Mars Orbiter Mission and Chandrayaan. She was also the Deputy Operations Director for this mission and has been working for ISRO since 1997, the release said.

Tiwari was presented the award for establishing the largest independent mobile ad-tech platform in the world, connecting local businesses in Uttar Pradesh and India with national and international audiences. The software developed by his enterprise is actively featured on over 400 million smartphones worldwide, it added.

 

On the sidelines of the event, cultural performances from diverse states were held.

The stage came alive with vibrant folk dances performed by artists from Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Sikkim, and Goa. Artistes from Bundelkhand, Awadh, Purvanchal, and the Braj region showcased their talents by presenting folk songs dedicated to Lord Ram.

The programme also featured soulful renditions of devotional music as part of Shri Ramotsav-2024, adding a spiritual dimension to the cultural celebration.

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and BJP President JP Nadda extended wishes on 'Uttar Pradesh Diwas' through microblogging platform X.

President Murmu wrote on Twitter, My heartfelt greetings to all the residents of the state on Uttar Pradesh Diwas. This most populous state in the country is playing a leading role in the social, cultural and economic progress of India.' 'I wish happiness and prosperity to the skilled, hardworking and loyal people of Uttar Pradesh. I am confident that this state and its residents will always remain on the path of development, she added.

 

'Many best wishes to all the family members of Uttar Pradesh, the holy land of spirituality, knowledge and education, on the foundation day of the state. In the last seven years, the state has written a new story of progress, in which the public has actively participated along with the state government,' the prime minister said on X.

'I am confident that Uttar Pradesh will play a leading role in the resolution journey of developed India,' he added.

In Siddharthnagar Mahotsav, a seminar and workshop was organized on the production and marketing of black salt rice selected under One District-One Product. Speakers in the seminar stressed on increasing the production of black salt, improving its quality and encouraging exports.

Speakers said that the farmers here will benefit by promoting its exports. In the seminar organized on Monday, the second day of Siddharthnagar Mahotsav at BSA grounds, senior scientist RC Chaudhary said that the production and marketing may be affected due to the stoppage of export of black salt. Positive efforts will have to be made to open exports. CFC of Kala Namak Rice, Abhishek Singh said that the code for rice called Kala should also be issued. Vikas Upadhyay said that there should be marking on the packing according to the languages ??of different countries of the world.

 

Expert Shridhar Pandey said that to maintain the identity of black salt rice, there is a need to pay attention to its quality. If the quality deteriorates, the brand name will also be tarnished. Anshuman Upadhyay also gave important information. In the workshop and seminar, the efforts made in the production, quality and marketing of black salt rice in the last decade as well as discussions were held for betterment in the future.

On this occasion, Deputy Commissioner Industries Dayashankar Saroj gave detailed information on the production and export of black salt rice at present compared to earlier.

 

Farmers did not participate, chairs remained vacant.

During the Black Salt Seminar at Siddharthnagar Mahotsav, chairs were seen vacant in the pandal due to farmers not coming. Local people said that farmers could not participate in the seminar due to the organizing committee not inviting them. Due to this, questions are being raised on organizing this program to make farmers aware. At the same time, no movement of people was seen in the Kala Namak zone at the festival site till 12.38 pm.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday directed the authority concerned to reduce import duty on four essential items – rice, edible oil, sugar and date– ahead of the upcoming Ramadan.

 

The directive came from the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office in the city.

 

'The prime minister has given a clear directive to decrease the duty on four items – edible oil, sugar, rice and date — on the occasion of the upcoming Ramadan,' said Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain while briefing reporters at the Secretariat.

 

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) would assess how much the duty can be curtailed, he said.

 

The prime minister also asked all the authorities concerned to work in a coordinated way and monitor the market so that there would be no deficit in the supply of the goods against the demand in the market, he added.

 

In reply to a question, the Cabinet secretary said the importers now do not face problems opening LCs to import any essential goods.

In the tranquil town of Kendrapara, Odisha, Ranjan Kumar nurtured a dream to start his Bakery Industry. This venture would fulfill his entrepreneurial aspirations and contribute to the thriving food industry. Little did he know that the journey ahead would be a rollercoaster of challenges and triumphs!

 

In July 2022, Ranjan took the plunge and founded Kaalki Corporation, an enterprise focused on producing bakery products. Armed with determination, he infused his 24 years of experience in the food and chemical sector to establish a unit that would bear his mark.

 

But his entrepreneurial journey wasn't so easy. For Rajan, the initial hurdle was securing the necessary capital investment. His vision needed financial backing. At that point, the PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme emerged as a beacon of hope for Rajan. The scheme aims to formalize and support micro-food processing enterprises by providing them with training, capacity-building support, seed capital, and credit linkages. The Director of Industries, Odisha, Cuttack, is the State Nodal Agency for implementing the Scheme in Odisha.

 

He learned about the PMFME Scheme through GM, DIC Kendrapara, serving as the District Nodal Officer for the scheme. But applying for the scheme was a whirlwind process. Rajan received the support of Palladium India, the State Project Management Unit supporting SNA for implementing the PMFME scheme in Odisha, to secure a loan and get a subsidy.

 

Rajan secured a bank loan from UCO Bank amounting to Rs. 66,50,000 and also got the benefit of a subsidy amounting to Rs. 10 lakhs. This financial boost enabled him to acquire the necessary machinery to scale his business. Kaalki Corporation's products found their way strategically into local stores, retail outlets, and wholesale channels in Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts in Odisha. Today, the corporation is operating at a per-day production capacity of 1500 kg, helping Rajan generate a daily profit of Rs. 2000. Under the PMFME scheme, Rajan will be undergoing the Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) training on essential aspects of starting and running a food processing business.

 

Rajan aims to expand his market reach by leveraging the power of social media platforms, websites, and e-commerce channels. He dreams of tapping into international markets by introducing an additional processing line to export cookies.

 

Vikash Pandey, associate director of Palladium, who leads the project, says, 'Palladium India is supporting many such Food Processing Units in facilitating various aspects of the PMFME scheme’s implementation. Palladium aids in preparing roadmaps and project implementation plans for the scheme's effective execution. We facilitate credit-linked support to individual and group enterprises, capacity-building activities, and assist micro-enterprises in integrating into the organized supply chain and expanding their market reach. Kaalki Corporation is one such microenterprise supported by Palladium with bank linkage, acquiring a subsidy, and constant support at every operation step.'

 

'This is just one story within the sea of success stories where the PMFME scheme transforms people's lives. The scheme is fulfilling dreams and contributing to rural development by creating employment opportunities, reducing migration, and promoting economic activities in these regions,' Pandey adds.

 

'Rajan’s success is a testament to our dedication to empowering small-scale enterprises. Palladium as SPMU provides implementation support to the Directorate of Industries, Odisha, including market access and training support for beneficiaries. We have provided credit-linked support to over 1000 micro-food processing units and trained over 7500 entrepreneurs. Around 19,000 SHG beneficiaries were able to receive seed capital support amounting to ~ INR 57 Cr.,' says Amit Patjoshi, CEO of Palladium India. 'These are not just numbers for us; each is a step towards mobilizing a huge wave of change in the food processing sector!'

 

Ganesh Chandra Behera, general manager of DIC Kendrapara, shares, 'The PMFME scheme is an exceptional initiative to boost the food processing industry in our country. It promotes formalization, enhances competitiveness, and supports upgrading technology and building capacity. We have witnessed a huge impact of the scheme in our area, and it can potentially transform lives nationally.'

Thousands of farmers' collectives across various states are now benefitting from the opportunity to sell a diverse range of agricultural products on the government's e-commerce platform, the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). Since the inclusion of farmers' producer organisations (FPOs) on the ONDC platform in April 2023, approximately 4,000 such bodies have successfully marketed 3,100 varieties of value-added agricultural products.

 

How Does ONDC Help?

The ONDC plays a crucial role in supporting and training FPOs, offering free registration and assistance in developing and digitising product catalogues. Additionally, the platform aids in generating shipping labels, identifying delivery partners, and facilitating digital payments. This comprehensive support empowers FPOs to leverage the digital marketplace efficiently for marketing their products.

 

The collaboration between ONDC and the Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), an entity under the agriculture ministry, aims to address challenges faced by FPOs in accessing markets nationwide.

 

What is ONDC?

Launched in April 2022 as a section 8 company by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, ONDC has emerged as a pivotal platform for agricultural commerce. The recent partnership with Meta underscores the platform's commitment to upskilling small businesses, including FPOs, highlighting the convergence of technology and agriculture.

 

For FPOs, the digital network provided by ONDC offers direct access to digital marketing, online payment systems, and facilitates both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions. This not only enhances the market reach for FPOs but also encourages local value addition, contributing to the growth of logistics in rural areas.

Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Tribal Affairs, Shri Arjun Munda launched the Framework for Voluntary Carbon Market in Agriculture Sector and Accreditation Protocol of Agroforestry Nurseries in Delhi today. Secretary Shri Manoj Ahuja, Secretary of DARE and Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Senior officials of Central and State Ministries and Various Organizations related to agriculture were present on the occasion, while many stakeholders also joined the programme virtually.

 

In his address, Shri Munda said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare prepared a framework to promote Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) in the agricultural sector of the country with a view to encourage small and medium farmers to avail benefits of carbon credit. Introducing farmers to the carbon market will not only benefit them but also accelerate the adoption of environment-friendly agricultural practices. He requested full cooperation from the concerned ministries of the Centre and the States and other concerned organizations to promote the carbon market in the interest of farmers. He said that work should be done in this direction in collaboration with the farmers of the southern areas, in a manner convenient for them and along with the solution; there is a need to focus its benefits on our farmers. This is the first step in which we want to ensure everyone's participation. Global challenges like global warming are in front of all of us; hence we have to move ahead with caution. He asked ICAR to play an active role in this direction and do good work in a right manner.

 

Shri Munda said that the agriculture sector in the country is making an important contribution to the economy and livelihood of crores of people. 54.6% of the country's workforce is engaged in agriculture and allied sectors’ activities. The share of agriculture sector in GDP is 18.6%, while the sown area is 139.3 million hectares, out of the total geographical area of the country. Keeping this importance in view, the Ministry has taken several steps under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for sustainable development. Shri Munda said that the Accreditation Protocol of Agroforestry Nurseries will strengthen the institutional arrangements for production and certification of planting material on a large scale to promote agroforestry in the country. He asked all the stakeholders to adopt it so that quality planting material can provide assured returns and the objectives and goals of the National Agroforestry Policy can be achieved. He also urged for proper use of natural resources. Shri Munda said our Prime Minister Shri Modi is very sensitive towards the development of agricultural sector and climate change, and under his leadership we are fully committed to solve the problems.

 

India has begun commercial export of pomegranates to the USA after it lifted the export ban in 2022. The government expects this move to open a big market for the Indian pomegranates, a fruit which is being increasing preferred by consumers across the world for its health benefits.

 

A consignment of 1344 kilograms of pomegranates of Kay Bee Export treated in the presence of an inspector from the USA was shipped by air on January 24. 'The pomegranates were first processed at the pack house of Kay Bee Exports and then irradiated at the Irradiation Facility Centre (IFC) of Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB) at Vashi in the presence of the US inspector to Florida in USA,' said MSAMB in a release.

 

It added, 'In 2017-2018, the United States had banned the import of pomegranates from India due to fruit fly infestation in pomegranate.'

 

Th Agricultural and Processed Foods Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) had jointly started discussions with the United States Department of Agriculture to lift the export ban. However, the USA has put a few conditions and prescribed some processes like mite wash, sodium hypochlorite treatment, washing, drying etc before the pomegranates are packed in boxes followed by irradiation, said Maharashtra state government officials.

 

India expects to tap a big market for pomegranates in the USA. 'The USA has included pomegranate in the dietary guidelines for skin disorder which has created a huge demand for pomegranate in USA. The Indian pomegranate variety has more demand than the California pomegranate variety. As this year’s pomegranates season in California has ended, there is scope for Indian pomegranates to capture the US market,' said MSAMB.

 

Like in case of mangoes, for which the USA sends an official as inspector to supervise the processing of mangoes for exports, it has sent an inspector for the pomegranate processing.

 

Maharashtra is the top producer and exporter of pomegranates in the country.

 

'We has done a trial shipment of pomegranates with the INI Farms about two months ago. We are currently using the air route as the freight time and costs are high by the sea. The ongoing Israel and Palestine war has made it tough to use the shorter Red Sea route. We expect the exports to increase after use of the sea routes becomes a feasible option,' said an official of the MSAMB, who requested not to be quoted.

 

Ahead of the Interim Budget, a Finance Ministry report on Monday placed FY25 GDP growth close to 7 per cent despite new geopolitical risks such as the Red Sea crisis that could impact global inflation and economic output. The report said India can aspire to become a $7-trillion economy by 2030.

 

In a normal year, the annual Economic Survey is presented a day before the Union Budget and gives real growth rate for the coming fiscal. This being an election year, the annual Survey will be tabled in July, but the interim report ‘Indian Economy- A Review’ prepared by the Economic Affairs Department of the Finance Ministry underlined that India’s growth will outpace the global economy in the next fiscal year.

 

In the preface to the report, Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran said: 'Some predict it will achieve another year of 7 per cent real growth in FY25 as well. If the prognosis for FY25 turns out to be right, that will mark the fourth year post-pandemic that the Indian economy will have grown at or over 7 per cent.'

 

Growth forecast

Earlier, the National Statistical Office (NSO), in the first advance estimate for FY24, projected a growth rate of 7.3 per cent as against 7.2 per cent of FY23. Many domestic and global research agencies expect growth rate in the range of 6.3 to 6.5 per cent with upward bias.

 

The DEA report attributed the optimistic growth rate to recent and future structure reforms and the strength of the financial sector. 'Only the elevated risk of geopolitical conflicts is an area of concern,' it cautioned.

 

'Under a reasonable set of assumptions with respect to the inflation differentials and the exchange rate, India can aspire to become a $7-trillion economy in the next 6-7 years (by 2030),' the report said.

 

The report underlined that the government has, over the recent years, helped banks strengthen their balance sheets by recapitalising them and restructuring the industry. From the recapitalisation and merger of public sector banks (PSB) and amendment of the SARFAESI Act 2002 to enacting the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016 (IBC), these reforms have helped clean up the balance sheets of banks and corporates.

 

The government and RBI have ensured that the 'twin balance sheet problem' of corporates and banks have converted into 'twin balance sheet advantage'.

 

Rising capex

The report said the government’s move to focus on capex-led growth strategy has paid rich dividends for the economy. Effectively, the capital expenditure of the public sector (including Union government capex, grants to the States for capital asset creation, and investment resources of the Central PSEs) has increased from Rs.5.6-lakh crore in FY15 to Rs.18.6-lakh crore in FY24, it highlighted.

 

Meanwhile, on the Indian financial markets, which have gone from strength to strength over the last decade, the report highlighted. 'The performance of Indian equity markets has enabled India to secure the second largest weightage in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index.

 

There is evidence of robust investor interest in India’s bond markets following the decision by JP Morgan to include India’s sovereign bonds in its widely tracked Emerging Markets Bond Index. Higher Participation will lead to inflows, which will further help reduce the government borrowing, it added.

 

Highlights of The Indian Economy-A Review

-Public sector capital investment surged in the last 10 years, the financial sector is healthy, and non-food credit growth is strong, enabling the Indian economy grow at a brisk rate

 

-Unwavering commitment to ensuring steady economic growth is generating resources for investment needed for climate change adaptation, building resilience, and mitigating emissions.

 

-Greater inclusive development, much lower unemployment rate, and moderate inflation, mark the journey from fragility to stability and strength during the last 10 years.

 

-Covid management, mature stimulus measures and the monumentally successful vaccination launched the return of the economy to a high-growth path

 

-Structural reforms implemented since 2014 have strengthened the macroeconomic fundamentals of the economy.

 

-Over the last decade, the Indian concept of welfare has been significantly transformed into a more long-term-oriented, efficient, and empowering avatar.

 

- Female LFPR rose from 23.3 per cent in 2017-18 to 37 per cent in 2022-23, reflecting a tectonic shift towards women-led development in India

 

-Female gross enrolment Ratio in senior secondary education more than doubled from 24.5 per cent in FY05 to 58.2 per cent in FY22 and in higher education quadrupled from 6.7 per cent in FY01 to 27.9 per cent in FY21

Australia is keen to get easier access to India’s agriculture market under the proposed Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) that is being negotiated between Canberra and New Delhi even as first phase of the trade pact, officially known as the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), has resulted in Indian goods to be available at much lower cost in that country, according to Philip Green, High Commissioner of Australia to India.

 

Speaking exclusively to ABP LIVE, Green said the ECTA has since coming into force already achieved a 77 percent utilisation rate of free trade access by exporters on both sides. However, he added, it is crucial for Australia to get more market access in India for agricultural goods, including agriculture technology.

 

'The first phase – ECTA – is going very well. The utilisation rate of the free trade access is now at 77 percent. That’s an extremely high level for free trade agreements. Indian products are able to enter Australia more cheaply and therefore more are flowing,' the Australian envoy told ABP LIVE during an interview.

 

 

According to Green, export of apparel and clothing from India has seen a 10 percent increase since the ECTA came into force in December 2022. He also highlighted that exports of Indian agricultural goods witnessed a 16 percent rise due to the trade deal.

 

'We are very keen to conclude the second phase, which is called CECA… (In CECA) Agricultural access is important to us. We are a big agricultural exporting country and we think that Indian consumers can benefit from more Australian agricultural goods at lower costs,' he said.

 

India and Australia have been negotiating the CECA since May 2011. However, after several rounds of negotiations, talks were suspended in 2016. It was thereafter revised in September 2021, and eventually the ECTA was signed.

 

One of the main reasons why concluding the CECA has missed many deadlines is due to Australia’s insistence on having reduced or tariff-free access to India’s agriculture market. The CECA is currently under negotiations and may not be concluded before the later part of this year until a new government comes to power in India after the parliamentary elections that are expected to be held in April-May 2024.  

 

Last December, an Australian parliamentary delegation visited India to discuss Australia’s entry into the Indian farming segment, which remains a contentious topic between both sides.

 

'We understand that this (agriculture) is sensitive for India. We have no desire to upset the lifestyles of important numbers of Indian people. To the contrary, we actually think that this deal (CECA) can be built in such a way that it supports the agricultural sector in India. We have a lot of agri-tech and we are prepared to share that. We would like to find ways of making sure that this is a win-win for Australia and India in agriculture,' said Green.

 

India Needs To Be ‘Quick & Assertive’ In Importing Critical Mineral, Rare Earth  

In October 2023, the Anthony Albanese government unveiled a plan to make it easy for countries to invest in mining and processing critical minerals and rare earth by announcing a $1.25 billion fund. With China dominating the market and the demand for critical minerals like lithium and cobalt increasing, Australia has said it wants India to be a steady player in that supply chain.

 

'Concluding the CECA would mean better utilisation of Australian critical minerals in India’s renewable energy trade especially in electric vehicles and batteries … India wants to do more in the renewable sector and we want India to be successful in that and we have a lot of the resources that are required for that. We want to make sure that Indian firms and governments are part of that supply chain,' said Green.

 

Australia is the largest exporter of lithium and second-largest producer of cobalt in the world. 

 

'We are going to be real about this. The demand for our critical minerals is high. Purchases in North America, purchases in North Asia, purchases in Europe, they are on the ground, as are some Indians. So my message to the Indian industry is that we are here to help, we want you to succeed, but you got to be quick and you are going to be assertive in a way you are going to go about it,' he stressed.

 

Green, who assumed charge as Australia’s envoy for India in August, also said: 'I do not think India is lagging behind. This phase is natural. We know about the mining game, it won’t be quick, developing mines takes time, takes high level of trust and of course, takes resources. I am confident that we will get there but my message is we all have to work harder and faster at this moment so when we come to the end of the next term of an Indian government we can say yes we got that done.'

 

India ‘An indispensable Partner’ In Indo-Pacific

With tensions now rising in the Red Sea region due to relentless attacks by Houthis on merchant vessels that have invited military operations in Yemen by the US and the UK, Australia said its ties with India are now more critical than ever under the Indo-Pacific strategic framework.

 

'We (Australia and India) live in a more complex, contested and dangerous world and we both need greater partnerships and deeper friendships with those whom we trust and with those with whom we have similar outlooks. For Australia, India is on a very short list of those countries that we want to deepen and we feel it’s important as we face more tension in our region,' said Green.

 

He added that 'both our governments are making very powerful efforts to manage those tensions', and aiming to see that the conflict in the Red Sea region 'do not widen in a way that it becomes dangerous for all of us'.

 

Earlier this month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Iran where he raised the issue of 'threats of maritime shipping' with Tehran. Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong visited Jordan, Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and the United Arab Emirates, to mitigate the growing tensions arising in the Middle East that is threatening growth in global commerce.

 

Since December, Houthi rebels have been attacking merchant ships passing through the Red Sea in retaliation to Israel’s deadly airstrikes on Gaza that has given rise to a humongous humanitarian crisis.

 

'The situation in Gaza is dire. Although Hamas attacks are to be completely decried, the ending of Hamas must be sought and we support Israel in that, the humanitarian interest of the people of Gaza must be held in that balance, that’s terrifically important… We are also focussed on the original cause of this, which we would like to bring to a sustainable ceasefire … And a ceasefire that is not unilateral,' said Green.

 

Australia is also part of the Quad, which includes India, Japan, and the US. According to the envoy, the Quad will remain focussed on the Indo-Pacific while he ruled out any expansion plans of the grouping.

 

'We are dealing with a world with global challenges in multiple locations. For our country, still, the top priority is the stability and peace in the Indo-Pacific and against that ambition India is an indispensable partner,' said the Australian envoy.

Agriculture has often been considered an essential component in India’s quest to become a fully industrialised and developed nation. After all, it contributes around 18 per cent of the nation’s GDP and provides livelihood for more than 55 per cent of the nation’s population, according to available data. From milk to cereals, fruits and vegetables, the country ranks top in the world for volume of production for many agricultural products.

 

With exports exceeding $40.9 billion in 2023 and an overall agri market size ranging between $350 and $500 billion, according to available data, India’s agricultural sector is on its way to become the food basket of the world. However, this will require investing in innovation and technology to enhance capacity and productivity towards achieving future targets.

 

As 2024 comes into full glare, there are great expectations from players in the sector for increased adoption of agro innovation through significant budgetary considerations. Operators in the agricultural sector are looking forward to a promising year as far as agro innovation is concerned. From artificial intelligence (AI) to machine learning (ML), robotics, and automation, there’s a long list of technologies that are expected to shape India’s farming sector in 2024 and following years.

 

Breakthroughs to look out for

One of the most disruptive technologies that will drive farming in 2024 is automation. Kisan drones, one of the fast-rising unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used in the agricultural sector, will become even more widespread in India. Kisan drones are going to be the important tools for crop protection, which are used to spray crop protection products the crops to protect the crops from insect, pests and diseases and ensure productivity.

 

In the same vein, Kisan drones have been identified by the Indian government as important components in the nation’s Agriculture 4.0 vision. Most of them come with a 15 litre payload and a 30-minute flight time; enough to spray over certain portions of the farm, assist with pollination, and also help with surveillance. Thankfully, there are a couple of programmes initiated by the government that support the proliferation of drones across farms in the country.

 

Using several programmes, including the Kisan Drone Yatra and Kisan Drone Yojana, the Indian government is providing a number of subsidies and interventions. On one hand, women small holder groups are provided the drones for them to sell to local farmers at subsidised rates. On the other hand, the government provides grants which cover 75 per cent of the cost of each drone to small holding farmers, making accessibility to such technologies possible for small and marginal farmers.

 

The move towards precision farming will also see a boost in 2024. This means increased deployment of remote sensing, global positioning systems (GPS), geographic information system (GIS), and data collection to support site-specific crop management. Where in-field variability occurs, this can also be spotted easily and addressed. Precision farming also allows farmers to vary the number of seeds they plant and the amount of fertiliser spread by a square meter, for instance.

 

Aerial imaging, biotechnology, convergence with internet of things (IoT), and RFID technology are other technological tools that will become more commonplace within the agricultural space in India. While these technologies may seem out of the reach of poor, local farmers, provision can be made to promote schemes like cross-subsidy. Furthermore, there is a need to enhance extension services to include agro innovation training, so that farmers are also taught how to use emerging technologies.

 

Other innovations to expect

The hope of many farmers in India is that the Union Government will give more attention to agriculture in the forthcoming budget. This will go a long way to support research & development which can help boost productivity. While that is underway, innovations like vertical farming and regenerative agriculture should drive the farming sector in 2024. A good example of regenerative agriculture is when farmer plants cover crops during the fallow period, as this will help to protect the soil and restore its fertility.

 

Building a better, prosperous ecosystem

From the governments at all levels to farmers, investors, agritech entrepreneurs, and other relevant bodies, there’s a need to collaborate effectively towards ensuring increased penetration of the technologies and innovations discussed in this post. The journey to food security depends on it. The government needs special initiates to provide incentives, support, and education to local farmers who must be willing to learn and accept modern ways of doing things, while techpreneurs must continually innovate to provide the best tools for India’s farming sector. At the same time looking at the current situations, reaching this technology to the last farmer will take some time may be years, but the starting steps are most important to set the tone towards a better agriculture.