How Indian agriculture has been transformed from food scarcity to food surplus level? Explain the various government policies implemented for diversification of Indian agriculture.
At Independence India imported food (PL-480 wheat, "ship-to-mouth"); today it produces record 330+ million tonnes of foodgrains and exports rice, sugar and marine products worth over USD 50 billion.
Transformation Journey:
- Green Revolution (1960s–70s): HYV seeds (IR-8, Kalyan Sona), assured MSP, FCI procurement, expanded irrigation and fertiliser subsidies — Punjab-Haryana-Western UP became the granary; wheat and rice output multiplied.
- White Revolution (Operation Flood): Cooperative dairy model (Amul) made India the world's largest milk producer.
- Blue, Yellow, Pink and Golden Revolutions transformed fisheries, oilseeds, meat and horticulture.
- Institutional support: NABARD, ICAR-network, Krishi Vigyan Kendras.
- Buffer stocks + NFSA (2013) ensured food access for 80 crore beneficiaries.
Yet Green Revolution's regional concentration, monoculture, groundwater depletion and soil degradation exposed limits, necessitating diversification toward high-value, sustainable, climate-resilient agriculture.
Policies for Diversification:
- Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) — fruits, vegetables, spices, flowers.
- National Mission on Edible Oils–Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) to cut edible-oil imports.
- Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) allowing state-specific projects including allied sectors.
- Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana for fisheries; National Livestock Mission.
- Sub-Mission on Agroforestry and Bamboo Mission.
- PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) for value addition.
- Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana and National Mission on Natural Farming for organic/natural cultivation.
- Per Drop More Crop under PMKSY promoting micro-irrigation for water-intensive crops shift.
- e-NAM and Agri-Infrastructure Fund (₹1 lakh crore) for post-harvest infrastructure.
- Millets (Shree Anna) Mission — International Year of Millets 2023.
- PM-AASHA for pulses and oilseeds price support.
Second-generation reforms must link diversification with markets, credit and climate resilience.
Answered By:
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