Fri Jan 31 20:23:11 IST 2025: ## India’s Agriculture Sector Shows Resilience Despite Climate Challenges: Economic Survey

**New Delhi, January 31, 2025** – India’s agricultural sector demonstrated robust growth averaging 5% annually between 2016-17 and 2022-23, according to the Economic Survey tabled in Parliament today. Despite challenges posed by climate change and water scarcity, the sector’s Gross Value Added (GVA) increased from 24.38% in 2014-15 to 30.23% in 2022-23. However, the survey highlighted the need for targeted interventions to address these challenges.

The survey noted a slower growth rate of 1.9% in oilseeds production, raising concerns given India’s reliance on imports to meet domestic edible oil demand. Conversely, high-value sectors like horticulture, livestock, and fisheries contributed significantly to overall agricultural growth, with the fishery sector exhibiting the highest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) at 13.67%.

Significant progress was also observed in irrigation infrastructure. Irrigation area coverage increased from 49.3% to 55% of the gross cropped area between 2015-16 and 2020-21. While states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana showed high irrigation coverage, others like Jharkhand and Assam lagged significantly, highlighting the need for improved water management practices.

The survey projected kharif food grain production to reach 1,647.05 lakh metric tonnes in 2024, an increase of 89.37 LMT compared to the previous year. Agricultural income also saw a 5.23% annual increase over the past decade. The government’s focus on modernizing food grain storage systems, particularly in remote areas, aims to further strengthen the agricultural supply chain. The survey recommended increased research and development to promote agricultural practices aligned with specific agro-climatic conditions and resource availability.

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