NEW DELHI, 10 July 2025: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal reaffirmed the Centre’s unwavering commitment to the farming community at the 16th Agriculture Leadership Conclave held in the capital on Thursday. He outlined a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening agricultural productivity, income security, and global competitiveness.
“Agriculture remains at the heart of the government's development agenda under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Mr. Goyal said, addressing an audience of policy leaders, agri-entrepreneurs, and academics.
He noted that over 25 crore Soil Health Cards have been distributed to farmers to promote balanced fertiliser use, leading to higher crop productivity. The Kisan Credit Card scheme, he added, continues to expand farmers’ access to institutional credit across rural India.
Empowering Farmers through Reforms and Technology
Goyal said the Centre is also focused on digital agri-marketing, having integrated 1,400 mandis into the e-NAM platform to provide real-time price information and improve market access for farmers.
He underlined that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government ensured an uninterrupted supply of fertilisers, alongside continued subsidies, which helped maintain affordability for farmers.
On the export front, Mr. Goyal said India’s agriculture, animal husbandry, and fisheries sectors contributed ₹4 lakh crore in exports in FY 2023–24, driven by basmati rice, spices, fresh produce, poultry, and seafood. He credited trade deals with Australia, the UAE, the UK, and EFTA countries for sustaining export momentum amid global uncertainties.
Future Growth Drivers
Looking ahead, the Minister highlighted the potential of: seed innovation and organic farming; drip irrigation and water efficiency; integration of AI, geospatial tech, and weather forecasting; and strengthening FPOs and agri-processing units.
Goyal also emphasised the importance of branding, packaging, and food value chains, noting that improved warehousing and logistics infrastructure are being built under government-supported schemes for agriculture and allied sectors.
“As we move toward a Viksit Bharat (Developed India), agriculture will continue to be a core pillar of India’s growth story,” he said.
