NEW DELHI, 11 May 2025: Indian agriculture must become economically viable to help the country achieve true self-reliance, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said recently, stressing the need to diversify into energy and power sectors.

Speaking at an event, Gadkari highlighted that the country currently lacks adequate storage for surplus foodgrains like rice, wheat, and sugar, creating challenges in managing agricultural output. “Indian agriculture is not very economically viable. Now, this is the time we need to find out the solution that how we are going to make our agriculture economically viable. Without that, we cannot make Atmanirbhar Bharat,” he said.

He called for policy innovations to boost rural and tribal employment and emphasized the need to ensure farmers receive remunerative prices despite the ongoing food surplus.

Gadkari also underscored the strategic importance of biofuels in addressing the twin challenges of fossil fuel dependence and pollution. “By creating a good market for biofuels, we are going to reduce our fossil fuel demand. Green fuel is key to sustainable development,” he added.

The minister’s remarks signal a policy pivot that combines agriculture, energy, and sustainability to create long-term viability for India's farming sector.

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