India’s agriculture is not just an economic enterprise—it is the soul of our civilisation, the lifeblood of rural families, and the heartbeat of our festivals, culture and traditions. Every acre tilled carries the memory of generations, every seed sown echoes the prayers of millions and every grain harvested is a triumph of sweat, hope and resilience.
India has made significant strides in agricultural subsidies through initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PMKSY) and Soil Health Cards, empowering farmers with financial support and data-driven insights to enhance productivity. But beyond policy and economics lies a deeper truth: our connection to the land is not transactional—it is spiritual. As we embrace a future driven by Artificial Intelligence and data, we must ensure that our emotional quotient remains intact. The push for innovation must be as compassionate as it is cutting-edge.
Pluralistic systems
To match China’s advancements in agricultural reforms—where centralised planning seamlessly integrates technology—India must intensify its focus on IT and AI while staying rooted in its agrarian ethos. Our pluralistic farming systems, shaped by centuries of indigenous wisdom, offer a path to sustainable, tech-driven growth without adopting rigid, top-down models.
India’s commitment to sustainable agriculture is visible in its diverse practices. The Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), pioneered in Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka, promote organic methods that honour the earth rather than exploit it. They echo our ancestral respect for Dharti Maa, treating soil not as a resource to be mined but as a living entity to be nurtured.
Water conservation efforts under PMKSY and the Jal Shakti Abhiyan demonstrate India’s proactive approach in battling scarcity, much like China’s advanced irrigation systems. But what differentiates India is the intimate relationship small farmers maintain with water bodies, treating them as sacred lifelines rather than mere utility.
Grassroots innovation
Both countries prioritise soil health—India through green manure, crop rotation and Soil Health Cards; China via straw return, composting and low-till systems. But for an Indian farmer, the soil is not just nutrient-rich earth — it is the giver of life, revered in prayer before the first plough touches it. Policies must, therefore, reflect this emotional ecosystem, aligning modern science with age-old stewardship.
As climate change disrupts weather cycles, India’s climate-resilient seeds developed by ICAR offer hope. These, paired with AI-based weather forecasting, can prepare farmers for uncertainty. Meanwhile, China’s agro-zoning and hybrid seeds offer scale. But India’s edge lies in its ability to humanise adaptation—not just reacting to climate threats but empowering communities to rise with dignity.
India’s grassroots innovation—from Sikkim’s fully organic shift to Andhra’s ZBNF—exemplifies how local traditions can scale sustainably. However, fragmented implementation and uneven tech access remain challenges. Here, India must consolidate successful models, not with cold policy, but with empathy-driven replication, respecting cultural and ecological differences across agro-zones.
All about dharma
Public-private partnerships, if built with farmers at the centre, can bring AI-powered irrigation, remote sensing and platforms like eNAM to the last-mile cultivator. But tech must not alienate—it must be designed with the hands that hold the sickle and the heart that watches over the crop like a child.
Amid global trade negotiations, India continues to protect its agricultural sector, particularly by rejecting genetically modified crops that threaten biodiversity and traditional knowledge systems. This resistance isn’t protectionism—it’s preservation. India’s soil has its own rhythm, one that must not be drowned by industrial noise. By investing in agroforestry, organic farming and carbon sequestration, India is protecting both its environment and its farmers’ emotional and financial well-being.
Sustainable agriculture, therefore, is not just about data and decisions. It’s about dharma—a duty to future generations, a pact with nature, and a tribute to those who feed the nation.
India’s policy framework must evolve beyond subsidies into systems that are regenerative, inclusive and infused with both intelligence and compassion. While China’s efficiency-driven reforms are instructive, India must chart a path where artificial intelligence complements ancient wisdom, where every byte of data respects every grain of soil.
Let our green revolution be not just smart, but soulful. Let it grow not only crops, but communities.
The author is sustainability expert. He is also Chief Sustainability Officer, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited, and Chairman of the ICC National Expert Committee on Sustainability
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Published on July 12, 2025
