Key facts
- India has achieved self-sufficiency in food production and is a global agricultural leader.
- Foodgrain production has risen to 376.5 million tonnes in 2025-26 from 50.8 million tonnes in 1950-51.
- India's agri exports reached Rs 4.3 lakh crore in 2024-25, with rice exports alone valued at Rs 1.05 lakh crore.
- The agricultural sector has grown at an average annual rate of 4.4% over the last seven years.
- Government budgetary allocation for agriculture has increased significantly, reaching Rs 1.40 lakh crore.
India has achieved self-sufficiency in food production and is recognized as a global leader in agriculture, according to Dr. G Baiju, Director of the ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI). Speaking at a workshop organized by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) in Thiruvananthapuram, Baiju highlighted the sector's transformation from dependence on imports in the 1950s to its current robust state.
The agricultural sector remains a significant driver of the Indian economy, contributing 16.3% to the GDP. Key achievements include a remarkable increase in productivity, with foodgrain production rising from 50.8 million tonnes in 1950-51 to a projected 376.5 million tonnes in 2025-26, alongside horticulture production exceeding 370 million tonnes. Agri exports have also seen substantial growth, increasing from Rs 55,000 crore in 2001 to Rs 4.3 lakh crore in 2024-25, positioning India as the world's largest rice exporter with Rs 1.05 lakh crore in rice exports.
Furthermore, the sector has demonstrated resilience by maintaining an average annual growth rate of 4.4% over the past seven years, consistently increasing foodgrain production despite adverse weather conditions. This progress is attributed to the central government's focus on agriculture, evidenced by a substantial increase in budgetary allocation from Rs 27,662 crore before 2014 to Rs 1.40 lakh crore currently. ICAR has played a pivotal role, releasing 3,821 high-yielding crop varieties between 2014 and 2025. Looking ahead, Baiju emphasized the need for technology-driven agriculture to meet the demands of India's projected population of over 1.6 billion by 2047.