India's agricultural growth rate reaches 4.5 per cent: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

India's agricultural growth rate has now reached 4.5 per cent, compared to approximately 3 per cent during the Green Revolution. This significant information was provided by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan while addressing the 'Bharat Agriculture Conference 2026' virtually at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. According to a report by India Today, the Minister stated that there has been a massive surge of nearly 50 per cent in the country's agricultural production in the last decade. He gave full credit for this achievement to the country's farmers and said that it is only due to the tireless efforts of farmers that India has become a leading producer of many food grains in the world today. Additionally, India has further strengthened its position in the global production of fruits and vegetables.

The Minister emphasised that along with increasing agricultural production, maintaining soil health is also extremely essential. To ensure sustainable farming and better yields in the future, improving soil quality and conserving natural resources is the need of the hour. Instead of focusing solely on increasing production, maintaining soil fertility is indispensable for agriculture. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for the agriculture sector, Chouhan said that the government is constantly working to increase facilities for farmers and make welfare schemes more accessible.

Providing information on the use of digital technology, the Minister stated that more than 11 crore farmers have been issued Digital Farmer IDs so far. These IDs will facilitate the direct delivery of government schemes and services to the beneficiaries. The government's aim is to make agriculture-related services more transparent and accessible by digitising them. Additionally, under the 'Kheti Bachao Abhiyan', efforts have been undertaken to bring modern agricultural technology and scientific research directly from laboratories to the farmers' fields, so that farmers can directly benefit from modern farming methods.

Speaking on the efforts being made by the government to increase the reach of Indian agricultural products at the international level, the Minister stated that India has entered into Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with several countries, while negotiations are ongoing with some others. The main objective of these agreements is to create new opportunities in the global market for Indian agricultural products and to ensure farmers get fair prices for their crops. He added that digital facilities and international trade opportunities will play an important role in strengthening the economic condition of farmers.

Furthermore, referring to the Central Government's decision to increase fertilizer subsidy for the Rabi season, Chouhan said that this step will provide great relief to farmers. He concluded by stating that the combination of farmers' hard work, modern technology, and soil conservation will take Indian agriculture to new heights. Equipping the sector to face future challenges and ensuring long-term sustainability is the government's priority.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan is a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party and is currently serving as the Union Agriculture Minister. Previously, he served as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh for a long period, where he took many important decisions for the development of the agriculture sector. He is known for keeping farmers' welfare and agricultural development at the centre of his political career.