Agriculture Must Double to $1 Trillion for India’s $10-Trillion Dream: Experts

New Delhi, November 3

India’s agriculture sector needs to double its economic contribution to nearly USD 1 trillion from the current USD 450 billion if the country is to realise its vision of becoming a USD 10-trillion economy by 2047, according to leading industry experts.

Speaking at a summit on agricultural policy reforms, they emphasized that while nearly 46% of India’s workforce is employed in agriculture, the sector contributes only about 15% to the national GDP, underscoring the need for structural reforms, science-led policies, and greater private investment.

Agriculture’s Role in the $10-Trillion Vision

“If we want to reach USD 10 trillion, agriculture’s share must rise from roughly USD 450 billion to USD 1 trillion,” said Ajai Rana, Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) Northern Regional Committee on Agriculture, at the event titled “Policy Reforms to Drive Growth in Agriculture.”

Rana, who also chairs the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII), highlighted how technology adoption can dramatically boost productivity when supported by conducive policies. He cited India’s hybrid corn adoption, which has surged from 15–20% two decades ago to nearly 90% today, as a success story driven by innovation and research.

However, Rana cautioned that inconsistent state-level regulations and ad-hoc bans on crop technologies are discouraging private investment and slowing growth across the agri-inputs and biotechnology segments.

Experts Call for Science-Led Reforms

The summit, jointly organized by CII and the Federation of Seed Industry of India, brought together policymakers, scientists, and agribusiness leaders who called for a science-based and harmonized regulatory framework to drive the next phase of agricultural transformation.

Experts proposed the creation of a National Agricultural Technology Council to harmonize Centre–State regulations, streamline approval timelines for new seeds and crop protection products, and ensure policy predictability for investors and innovators.

Raghavan Sampathkumar, Executive Director of FSII, identified three key barriers holding back reform: “activism influence, ad-hoc interruptions, and arbitrary interpretations of laws.”

“Science must triumph over sensation. Policy decisions cannot be dictated by activism or sudden state-level bans without scientific basis,” Sampathkumar asserted.

A $1-Trillion Opportunity

Industry leaders agreed that a science-driven policy environment could unlock massive potential for India’s agriculture sector. The agri-inputs industry, currently valued at around USD 60 billion, could double within a decade if supported by coherent policy reforms and sustained investment in innovation.

With the right blend of technology adoption, regulatory stability, and private participation, experts believe India’s agriculture can evolve from a subsistence-driven sector into a trillion-dollar growth engine — a cornerstone of India’s $10-trillion economic ambition.