India’s agriculture sector is at a crossroads, facing a steady decline as farmers migrate to more stable non-farm sectors. This trend, while not currently alarming due to surplus buffer stocks, signals a future need for transformation. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has highlighted that buffer stocks remain above prescribed norms, but this cannot be relied upon indefinitely. Ensuring long-term food security requires Future-Proof Farming—rebuilding agriculture into a modern, attractive, and economically viable profession for the next generation.
The rise in rural unemployment and increasing fallow lands presents a critical opportunity. Institutions such as NABARD emphasise that mechanisation, digitisation, and modernisation of farming practices can generate meaningful livelihoods, improve productivity, and reduce financial vulnerabilities that often lead to agrarian distress. The future of agriculture will be shaped not only by cultivation but by how effectively we integrate technology, innovation, enterprise, and investment. Future-Proof Farming demands a shift from subsistence-oriented approaches to systems that are scalable, resilient, and market-aligned.
On the occasion of Kisan Diwas, the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR) is hosting a webinar titled “Future-Proof Farming: Technology, Talent & Investment Pathways for a Resilient Agri Sector.” The discussion brings together leaders from agri-enterprises, agri-startups, and agricultural investment domains. The objective is to explore how India can scale agriculture in a profitable and resilient manner—transitioning from traditional practices to science-based, market-driven, and climate-aligned systems. This dialogue aims to identify pathways that balance farmer welfare with national food security.
The webinar will highlight pathways for value creation, including the development of value-added products, integration of high-value commodities, and promotion of complementary activities such as pisciculture, horticulture, and floriculture as income-augmenting models. The discussion will also examine the potential of emerging carbon markets and climate-finance mechanisms that can enable farmers to monetise sustainable practices—an important pillar of Future-Proof Farming in a climate-constrained future.
Rather than romanticising past sacrifices, this platform aims to foster forward-looking, evidence-based dialogue that encourages young talent to enter the sector. By leveraging modern technologies, informed investments, and multi-stakeholder collaboration, Future-Proof Farming seeks to make agriculture not only sustainable but truly admirable—an enterprise where farmers thrive, risks reduce, and India’s food future remains secure.
Key discussion points include the major structural, economic, environmental, and technological challenges associated with Indian agriculture today, and how these challenges impact small and marginal farmers. The webinar will explore ways in which Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) can enhance agricultural productivity, strengthen market access, and contribute to augmenting farmers’ income. The potential of emerging technologies—such as drones, soil-testing devices, remote-sensing tools, precision farming, and smart irrigation systems—will also be examined.
The discussion will delve into how agri-startups and technology interventions can improve productivity and profitability for farmers at various stages of the agricultural value chain. Private investment in agriculture has historically remained low compared with sectors like manufacturing or services. The webinar will explore how existing platforms such as BSE, NSE, commodity exchanges, or specialised agri-investment frameworks can be leveraged to attract private capital into agriculture.
The integration of carbon-credit mechanisms into Indian farming systems will also be discussed, offering farmers a new, climate-positive source of revenue. Strategies—policy reforms, technological integration, skill development, entrepreneurship opportunities, and income stabilisation—will be explored to make farming a more appealing and viable career choice for the younger generation in India.
The webinar will feature esteemed panellists, including Mr Sridhar Easwaran, Director at Samunnati Foundation, Mr Emmanuel Murray, Investment Director at Caspian Equity, and Mr Devan Chandrasekharan, Founder of Fuselage Innovations. The moderator will be Ms Shobha Vasan, Associate, Research and Projects, Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Kochi.
This webinar promises to be a pivotal event in shaping the future of Indian agriculture, offering insights and strategies to ensure the sector’s resilience and sustainability in the face of evolving challenges.