Gathering 2025's Sustainable Agriculture Summit urges Green Expansion as the driving force for India's financial success
The 2nd Sustainable Agriculture Summit & Awards 2025, organised by Sustainability Matters and IndiAgri, brought together stakeholders from across the country to discuss strategies for a sustainable and farmer-centric agricultural sector. The event was graced by Union Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment Ramdas Athawale, who asserted the importance of basing India's economic growth on the progress of farmers and sustainable agriculture.
The summit highlighted key initiatives and strategies aimed at creating a resilient, efficient, and low-carbon agricultural sector. These initiatives integrate environmental sustainability, technology adoption, policy support, farmer welfare, and income diversification.
One such initiative is the promotion of regenerative agriculture projects, funded by companies like Louis Dreyfus Company. These projects improve soil health, reduce carbon emissions, and offer farmers additional income streams through carbon markets.
Government-led schemes and technological adoption also play a significant role. Initiatives like the Namo Drone Didi scheme enhance precision farming and create new income for self-help groups. Various government programs such as the National Food Security and Nutrition Mission aim to increase production of key crops by expanding area, enhancing productivity, restoring soil fertility, and strengthening farm economies.
Policy discourse is focusing on supporting young and digitally skilled farmers, subsidizing responsible and sustainable farming practices, and linking sustainability goals with farm resilience to combat climate risks. Digital platforms and microfinancing, provided by organisations like Syngenta Foundation India, connect millions of farmers to digital tools that provide market transparency, agronomic advice, and income stabilization.
Multiple complementary schemes, such as PM-KISAN, PM-KMY, interest subvention schemes, market intervention and price support schemes, micro-irrigation funds, and agriculture mechanization sub-missions, strengthen the overall ecosystem for sustainable productivity and farmer income.
Under the banner of Krishi 2047, the aim is to document what's working on the ground and build a platform for dialogue, recognition, and policy linkages that can take these models national.
Dr Vimala Prakash, Head of the Technology Innovation Center at IPL Biologicals Limited, emphasized the role of science-led innovation in bridging the gap between farm needs and sustainable outcomes. Siba P Mohanty, Managing Director of Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Limited (HURL), highlighted the importance of responsible input management and water stewardship in securing the future of Indian agriculture. Highlighting the role of innovative crop diversification, Ms Deepshikha, IAS, shared her experience from Ferozepur, Punjab, where chilli cultivation between paddy and wheat cycles is being promoted to boost farmer welfare.
Six IAS officers were honoured for their district-level sustainable initiatives, including Ravi Anand, IAS, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate, Jamtara; Pamela Satpathy, IAS, District Collector, Karimnagar; Hari Chandana, IAS, District Collector, Hyderabad; Himanshu Nagpal, IAS, Chief Development Officer, Varanasi; and Rajesh Jogpal, IAS, Haryana.
Dr Navneet Anand, Executive Director of Sustainability Matters, stated that the summit was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a Viksit Bharat, where agriculture is a catalyst for sustainable growth. Dr Rajendra Prasad, General Manager & Regional Head, SIDBI, noted that SIDBI's role includes encouraging entrepreneurship across industries, including agriculture. Manoj Kumar Dubey, Chairman & Managing Director, Indian Railway Finance Corporation, said that the private and public sectors must work in tandem to unlock capital for green and farmer-centric innovations.
As India's agri-credit flow crossed Rs. 20 lakh crore in FY2024, much of it remains concentrated in short-term crop loans rather than long-term climate-resilient infrastructure. The focus on sustainable agriculture is crucial for India's long-term economic vision of Viksit Bharat, where agriculture is not just about food security but about economic strategy.
- The summit underscored the significance of basing India's economic growth on the progress of farmers and sustainable agriculture, as advocated by Ramdas Athawale.
- The event highlighted initiatives integrating environmental sustainability, technology adoption, policy support, farmer welfare, and income diversification to create a resilient agricultural sector.
- Regenerative agriculture projects, supported by companies like Louis Dreyfus Company, are being promoted to improve soil health, reduce carbon emissions, and provide additional income streams for farmers.
- Government-led schemes like the Namo Drone Didi scheme and programs such as the National Food Security and Nutrition Mission aim to increase production of key crops and strengthen farm economies.
- Policy discourse is concentrating on supporting young, digitally skilled farmers and linking sustainability goals with farm resilience to combat climate risks.
- Digital platforms and microfinancing offered by Syngenta Foundation India and other organizations provide market transparency, advice, and income stabilization for millions of farmers.
- Multiple complementary schemes, such as PM-KISAN and PM-KMY, play a role in strengthening the ecosystem for sustainable productivity and farmer income.
- Krishi 2047 aims to document successful on-ground models and build a platform for dialogue, recognition, and policy linkages to take these models national.
- The summit emphasized the importance of science-led innovation in bridging the gap between farm needs and sustainable outcomes, and noted that the private and public sectors must work together to unlock capital for green and farmer-centric innovations in line with the long-term economic vision of a Viksit Bharat.
