Experts’ Speak - Protect Our Livelihood
Sixty-eight years ago, John H Davis and Ray A Goldberg introduced the term agribusiness in their 1957 book A Concept of Agribusiness...Today, the agribusiness sector plays a critical role in the global economy... The sector extends beyond primary agriculture, encompassing a wide range of services such as transportation, storage, refrigeration, credit, finance, insurance, and agritech innovations…agribusiness management should be a core part of agricultural education, essential for economic growth, rural development, and global competitiveness. 
India has the largest population of livestock globally…There exists a considerable scope to exploit the untapped potential of livestock through strategies such as: (i) optimising livestock population; (ii) enhancing and prioritising public spending on livestock; (iii) improving supply of feeds and fodders; (iv) improving delivery of livestock services; (v) investing more in research and extension; (vi) improving coverage of livestock insurance; and (vii) strengthening markets and value chains. India’s agricultural trade can grow in an increasingly reciprocal global market if we negotiate smartly and prioritise our investments that make Indian agriculture more competitive rather than dependent on heavy subsidies (as in case of fertilisers). Trump’s tariff threat should be a wake-up call for India’s agricultural policymakers. If handled wisely, it could be an opportunity to transition from tariff-heavy trade protectionism to a more resilient, productivity-driven export strategy — one that ensures long-term gains for Indian farmers and exporters alike. The more things are changed, the more they remain the same. This holds true for recent attempts at agricultural reforms in India with even the three well-intentioned farm laws being rescinded in 2021 following widespread farmer protests. However, the challenges faced by small and marginal farmers, who make up nearly 85 per cent of the community, cannot be addressed without sustained reforms. The sector is of such critical importance that progressive changes must be continually pursued. Budget 2025 presents a timely opportunity to stay focused on reform-tweaks, especially in creating conditions that support the “ease of doing business” for farmers. The entire MSP framework needs a revisit — not in the direction of making it legal but freeing up prices of products as also its major inputs such as fertilisers and power. In fact, land markets also need to be opened up, starting with land lease markets. A highly regulated land market, and pricing of inputs and some outputs (rice and wheat), with massive procurement, is leading to huge inefficiencies in the system. A new model of holistic collective farming offers a beacon of hope. This innovative approach aims to pool fragmented landholdings, empower small farmers through collective efforts, and ensure sustainable, profitable farming practices. The holistic collective farming model is not just an economic initiative; it is a vision for social transformation Recently, the Centre approved expansion of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme to extend financial assistance for creation of viable community farming assets and integrated post-harvest management infrastructure. Though the scheme has been implemented since July 8, 2020, it is saddled with certain challenges at the ground level. Regenerative agriculture (RA) improves soil health by promoting biodiversity, carbon sequestration, restoring entire agricultural ecosystems, and thus goes beyond sustainability… Many successful RA farms exist across the country, despite Green Revolution. They have demonstrated resilience to erratic weather patterns…These are exemplars, despite their small size, because of their signalling effect…Exemplars must be enhanced, in their depth, breath and coverage, establishing a scientific basis for RA and creating a critical mass for transformation. Digitisation of agriculture has to go way beyond just identifying farmers. It needs to know what crops they are growing, whether they are insured or not, how much fertilisers they are using, what is the status of their soils, and whether they are also receiving food subsidy (free rice and wheat) etc. What is needed is a triangulation of various data sets related to agriculture, which are fragmented today, into a common agri-stack. The Budget 2024-25 sets the stage for significant advancements in the agricultural sector, but the true test lies in its implementation. The government’s ability to address the underlying issues — such as digital literacy, climate resilience, and equitable access to resources — will determine whether these initiatives can deliver on their promise of fostering sustainable and inclusive agricultural growth.