NEW DELHI, 5 July 2025: India’s agriculture sector has documented a structural transformation over the past decade, shifting steadily from crop-dominated output towards a more diversified, animal-based, and high-value production pattern, according to the recently released Statistical Report on Value of Output from Agriculture and Allied Sectors covering 2011–12 to 2023–24.
While cereals continue to serve as the backbone of Indian agriculture, their share in the overall value of output is showing clear signs of rebalancing. Paddy further consolidated its leadership among cereals, growing from 50.6% to 52.6% of total cereal output. Wheat’s share fell from 35% to 33?ter 2020–21, while maize registered a modest but consistent rise from 7.7% to 9.3%, reflecting higher use in feed and industrial processes. Among coarse cereals, jowar and ragi showed declining trends, while bajra displayed fluctuations. Smaller millets and other cereals continued to contribute marginally.
The pulse segment, although still dominated by gram, witnessed diversification. Gram declined from 46% to 42.7%, while arhar fell sharply from its 2016–17 peak of 23.1% to 15.6% in 2023–24. Moong exhibited steady gains, with urd remaining stable and masoor showing a slight uptick. Other pulses such as horse gram, moth, rajma, cowpea, and lakh/khesri retained minimal but steady shares.
Livestock has emerged as the fastest-growing component of the agriculture and allied sector. Over the decade, milk production rose by 72%, egg output increased by 84.3%, and meat production more than doubled. Wool, in contrast, declined by 27.5%. Notably, non-meat animal products such as dung, silk, cocoon, and honey saw an 84.4% surge, indicating a rise in rural engagement.
Fisheries, too, witnessed robust expansion. Inland fishing production nearly doubled, growing by 97.73%, while marine fishing recorded an exceptional 176% growth over the decade.
Experts interpret these findings as signals of an emerging structural transformation towards more diversified, resilient, and higher-value agri-business models in India.
