SDG 2: Zero Hunger | SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | SDG 13: Climate Action | SDG 15: Life on Land
NITI Aayog | Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) | Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
The NITI Aayog report, Scenarios Towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero - Sectoral Insights: Agriculture mentions that transforming the agricultural sector is fundamental to India’s 2047 development goals and 2070 climate commitments. Agriculture supports 46% of the workforce and contributes roughly 14% to India’s GHG emissions, primarily from non-energy sources like enteric fermentation and paddy cultivation. Under the transformative Net Zero Scenario (NZS), non-energy emissions are projected to decline significantly due to a strategic shift from water-intensive staples to pulses and millets, and the adoption of water-efficient methods like Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD). By accelerating sustainable practices, the sector can deliver approximately 25% mitigation co-benefits by 2070 while safeguarding food security and enhancing the livelihoods of small and marginal farmers.
Strategic Pillars for a Resilient and Low-Carbon Agri-Food System The roadmap identifies several critical foundational pillars to align agricultural productivity with environmental limits:
Crop Diversification and Nutrition: Transitioning from rice, wheat, and sugarcane to pulses, millets, and horticulture to build climate resilience and reduce methane intensity.
Sustainable Intensification (SYI): Utilizing high-yielding, climate-resilient varieties to close yield gaps while improving Fertilizer Uptake Efficiency (FUE) through Soil Health Cards.
Agroecological Transition: Scaling up natural and chemical-free farming to restore soil health and reduce the carbon footprint of synthetic fertilizer production.
Livestock Productivity Gains: Enhancing milk yields through improved nutrition and breed management, which reduces the overall methane emission per unit of output.
Circular Resource Management: Implementing aggressive crop residue management to end stubble burning and repurpose biomass for bioenergy and soil nutrients.
What is the “Alternate Wetting and Drying” (AWD) method in rice cultivation? Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) is a water-management technique for rice cultivation where the field is not kept continuously flooded. Instead, the field is allowed to dry out until the water level drops below the soil surface before being re-flooded. This practice can reduce water consumption by up to 30% and significantly lower methane emissions—a potent greenhouse gas—without compromising crop yields. It represents a key “efficiency-first” solution for transitioning toward a net-zero agricultural economy.
Policy Relevance
The NITI Aayog findings represent a transition from subsistence-based farming to an “Integrated Agri-Food Systems” model. By institutionalizing the Net Zero Scenario, the Ministry of Agriculture and ICAR are providing a long-term roadmap to balance the “Trilemma” of food security, farmer incomes, and climate mitigation.
Strategic Impact:
Enhancing Farmer Incomes: Shifting to high-value horticulture and pulses can insulate small and marginal farmers from the price volatility and climate risks associated with traditional mono-cropping.
Achieving Water Security: Implementing AWD and SRI methods across India’s paddy belt is critical to preserving declining groundwater tables and ensuring long-term hydrological stability.
Fiscal Optimization: Improving fertilizer efficiency directly reduces the massive central subsidy burden, allowing for the redirection of funds toward climate-resilient infrastructure and R&D.
Positioning India as a Biofuel Hub: Managing crop residues for bio-CNG and ethanol production supports the National Biofuels Policy, turning agricultural waste into a high-value energy asset.
Follow the full report here: NITI Aayog: Scenarios Towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero - Agriculture