Article 
A New Paradigm for Transforming Indian Agriculture

By : Suhas P. Wani, Dhirendra Singh

Page No: 400-418

Abstract
India’s policymakers and farmers have a huge responsibility to make India a developed nation by the 100 th anniversary of freedom and achieving the UN sustainable development goals of zero hunger, nutrition security and overcoming poverty. Ensuring food security for a growing population (estimated at 1.66 billion in 2050), in the context of growing water scarcity, land degradation, impacts of climate change and large yield gaps is a mammoth task. The farmers, agricultural scientists, extension staff, and policy makers have so far done a great job of ensuring food security for the 1.4 billion population. However, given the rising challenges there is an urgent need to use new scientific tools such as ICT, AI, cloud computing, drones, remote sensing for providing integrated and holistic solutions. Using the 4-ISEC model and creating value-chains by strengthening the science of delivery to reach 147 million farmers and promoting collective efforts through Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), and enhancing resource use efficiency are necessary steps to achieve India’s farming and food security goals.

Authors:
Suhas P. Wani is a former Director, Research Program Asia and ICRISAT Development Center (IDC), International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). He is currently an International Consultant for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). He has expertise in integrated water resources management, strengthening science of delivery and scaling-up models to benefit millions of farmers. He is a recognised water expert globally.

Dhirendra Singh was the Secretary for Agriculture, Horticulture and Rural Development of Karnataka State. He also served as a World Bank Expert in Kwara State of Nigeria in the field of agricultural administration. He was the Union Home Secretary in 2004-2005 and later a Member of the Commission on Centre State Relations until 2010.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/NS.2022.05.04.2