Need of the Hour: Impactful Innovations that Can Aid Small and Marginal Farmers

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

However, as the world hurtles towards a future defined by innovation and efficiency, India's agricultural sector stands at a critical juncture. Today, the convergence of digital advancements, precision farming techniques, and innovative agritech solutions holds the promise of revolutionising the way we cultivate the land, unleashing untapped potential and propelling Indian agriculture into the digital world.

These accomplishments in Indian agriculture are due to enablers like farm mechanisation, disruption in food productivity and increased irrigation coverage.

Let us look at some statistics- approximately 394.6 million acres of land in our country is under farming, with an average farm size of about 2 acres.

Increasing population pressure and lack of land management policies is leading the country's relatively small land holdings to further fragmentation, directly affecting productivity, income levels, and overall gross domestic product (GDP).

'The country's majority of land holdings — 86.2% is small and marginal farmers. However, data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare 2020 depicts that even though small and marginal farmers hold the majority of the land holdings, the operated area held by them is only 47%.

This Data highlights the disparity. Yet small farmers contribute nearly 51% of agricultural output and a higher share (by almost 70%) in high-value crops with the limited operated land they hold.