Archive · 12 Oct 2026
Modi’s Agricultural Record: Growth, Food Security and Challenges
The article reviews farming in Gujarat and India during Narendra Modi’s time in public service.
Its author says Gujarat’s farming grew quickly, helped by irrigation, electricity, roads and advice for farmers.
The article also says India has expanded irrigation and maintained food supplies.
It reports that India grows and exports large amounts of rice, but imports products such as edible oils and pulses.
The author thinks farmers have stronger incentives to grow rice and wheat than pulses and oilseeds.
The author suggests paying farmers to grow more pulses and oilseeds, which could also reduce pressure on groundwater.
Another suggestion is to place solar panels above crops so the land can produce both food and electricity.
The author says a pilot project in Rajasthan saw farmer income increase eight to ten times.
These are the author’s claims and recommendations, not newly announced government policies.
The author credits irrigation, power, roads and agricultural extension with Gujarat’s reported annual farm-sector growth of more than 9% during Modi’s chief-ministership.
The article says nearly 60% of India’s gross cropped area is irrigated and reports average agricultural GDP growth of 4% annually from 2014-15 to 2025-26.
India exported about $53 billion in agricultural products and imported about $40 billion in 2025-26, according to the article.
The author argues that incentives favor rice and wheat over pulses and oilseeds, and proposes a payment of about Rs 35,000 per hectare to encourage a crop shift.
The article proposes expanding agri-photovoltaics, citing an ICRIER pilot in Rajasthan where farmer income reportedly rose eight to ten times.
- Who
- Narendra Modi, Indian farmers and the article’s author, an agricultural economist.
- What
- An assessment of agricultural growth and food security, alongside proposals to encourage pulses and oilseeds and expand agri-photovoltaics.
- When
- The article reviews 2001-02 to 2013-14 in Gujarat and 2014-15 to 2025-26 at the national level.
- Where
- Gujarat and India, including an agri-photovoltaics pilot in Rajasthan.
- Why
- The author says changes are needed to address crop imbalances, groundwater pressure and the goal of increasing farmers’ incomes.
- Modi’s public service
- The article says he completed 25 years: 13 as Gujarat chief minister and 12 as India’s prime minister.
- Gujarat agricultural growth
- More than 9% per year during 2001-02 to 2013-14, according to the article.
- India agricultural GDP growth
- An average of 4% annually from 2014-15 to 2025-26, as reported by the author.
- Irrigated area
- Almost 60% of India’s gross cropped area is irrigated, according to the article.
- Agricultural trade
- About $53 billion in exports and $40 billion in imports in 2025-26.
- Proposed crop-shift payment
- About Rs 35,000 per hectare for pulse or oilseed growers.
- Rajasthan pilot
- An ICRIER agri-photovoltaics pilot reportedly increased a farmer’s income eight to ten times.
