New Delhi, August : The Government of India is developing comprehensive Agricultural Roadmaps tailored to the agro-climatic conditions of individual states and Union Territories to promote sustainable agricultural growth, improve farmers' incomes, and strengthen climate resilience.

The initiative, led by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, has already begun for the states of Assam, Goa, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Extensive consultations have been held with the respective State Governments and other stakeholders to prepare region-specific agricultural action plans.

According to the government, the roadmaps are being developed jointly by ICAR, the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, ICAR institutes, State Governments, State Agricultural Universities, and subject experts. The planning process is based on agro-climatic regions, natural resource availability, climate resilience, technological interventions, and farmers' needs, ensuring that each roadmap reflects local agricultural conditions and state priorities.

The Agricultural Roadmaps are designed to provide a broad policy framework aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity, profitability, and resource-use efficiency across farming and allied sectors. They also seek to promote the adoption of scientific technologies and climate-resilient agricultural practices suited to diverse agro-climatic zones.

The government stated that while the roadmaps will serve as strategic guidance, States and Union Territories may use these principles while preparing their annual action plans under various agricultural schemes. The framework is intended to support informed decision-making and better alignment of agricultural development programmes with regional requirements.

Key objectives of the initiative include increasing farmers' incomes, improving self-sufficiency in agricultural and allied commodities, generating rural employment opportunities, and ensuring sustainable growth of the agriculture sector. The roadmaps also aim to address challenges related to climate change while meeting the evolving needs of farmers through location-specific interventions.

The information was provided by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.