New Delhi, Feb 3 (NationPress) The Gross Value Added (GVA) within India's agriculture and associated sectors, which includes crops, livestock, fisheries, and horticulture at current prices, has been reported at 10.4 percent for the fiscal year 2024-25, as informed to the Parliament on Tuesday.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ramnath Thakur, shared in a written statement to the Lok Sabha that the total foodgrain output for the country during 2024-25 is projected to reach a historic 3,577.32 lakh metric tonnes (LMT), marking a 7.65 percent rise compared to the 3,322.98 LMT recorded in 2023-24.

He highlighted that the government is continuously assessing the critical factors impacting agricultural development, such as farm incomes, input costs, climate variations, irrigation provisions, credit accessibility, and market connections. This ongoing evaluation is conducted through various studies, field visits by officials, and periodic high-level reviews.

The government is implementing a cohesive strategy aimed at boosting farmers' incomes and ensuring comprehensive growth of the agricultural sector. This strategy encompasses enhancing crop production, lowering production costs, and ensuring better price realizations for farmers’ products to improve their earnings.

Additionally, agricultural diversification, enhancing post-harvest value addition, adapting to climate change for sustainable farming, and minimizing crop losses are key components of this strategy.

Furthermore, the minister noted that the government has significantly increased the budget for the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare from Rs 21,933.50 crore in the 2013-14 budget to Rs 1,27,290.16 crore for the fiscal year 2025-26. The government has also raised the Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for all mandated kharif, rabi, and other commercial crops, ensuring a minimum return of 50 percent over the weighted average cost of production since 2018-19.

In addition, various policies, reforms, developmental programs, and initiatives have been launched to cover the full range of agriculture, aiming at enhancing the welfare and income of farmers by increasing production, ensuring profitable returns, and providing income support. This comprehensive approach includes aspects like farm incomes, input costs, climate variability, irrigation, credit access, market linkages, insurance, infrastructure, crops including horticulture, seeds, mechanization, organic and natural farming, farmer collectives, extension services, and digital agriculture, according to his response.