Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday said India's agricultural growth rate had risen to 4.5 per cent, compared with around 3 per cent during the Green Revolution, while agricultural production had surged nearly 50 per cent over the past decade.Addressing the 'Bharat Agriculture Conference 2026', organised by Kisan Tak at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, virtually, Chouhan said India had emerged as the world's leading producer of several foodgrains and had strengthened its position in global fruit and vegetable production.Crediting farmers for the sector's progress, he also said more than 11 crore farmers had been issued digital Farmer IDs to facilitate access to government schemes and services."During the Green Revolution, the country's agricultural growth rate was around 3 per cent, which has now increased to over 4 per cent," he said, adding that farmers had made a significant contribution to this progress. The minister emphasised that increasing agricultural production must go hand in hand with protecting soil health.

He said healthy soil was essential for sustainable farming and higher yields in the future, stressing that agriculture should not focus solely on increasing production but also on improving soil quality and conserving natural resources.Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for the agriculture sector, Chouhan said the government was working to improve facilities for farmers and make welfare schemes and services more accessible. He said more than 11 crore farmers had been issued Farmer IDs, which would help streamline the delivery of government schemes and other benefits directly to beneficiaries.

The government was also working to digitise agriculture-related services to make them more accessible and transparent, he added.Chouhan also highlighted the 'Kheti Bachao Abhiyan', under which the government is seeking to take modern agricultural technology and scientific research from laboratories to farmers' fields. He stressed that farmers should be able to directly benefit from scientific advancements and modern farming practices.The minister said a combination of farmers' efforts, modern technology and soil conservation could take Indian agriculture to greater heights.

He also underlined the need to prepare the sector for emerging challenges while ensuring long-term sustainability.Chouhan also spoke about the government's efforts to expand market opportunities for Indian agricultural products and improve farmers' incomes.He said India had entered into free trade agreements (FTAs) with several countries, while negotiations with some others were ongoing. These agreements, he said, were aimed at creating new opportunities for Indian agricultural products in international markets.The minister said the government's objective was to help farmers secure better markets for their produce and ensure they received fair prices for their efforts.He added that digital facilities and expanding international trade opportunities could play an important role in strengthening farmers economically.Chouhan also highlighted the Centre's decision to increase fertiliser subsidies for the Rabi season, saying the move would provide significant relief to farmers.He said the decision was taken at a Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was aimed at protecting farmers' interests.The minister said the government regularly intervened through various schemes whenever market prices of agricultural produce declined and farmers' earnings came under pressure.The objective, he said, was to protect farmers' incomes and ensure they received fair prices for their produce.Chouhan added that providing affordable fertilisers and extending support to farmers during periods of declining market prices remained among the government's priorities.- Ends