Vijay Nakra discusses the concept of 'smart farming,' where AI and new technologies are transforming agriculture

A meeting was organized during the 'India Agriculture Conference 2026,' dedicated to the issues of farmers and the agricultural sector. This two-day international forum is taking place at the Indian Mandapam in New Delhi under the theme 'Smart Farmer, Developed India.' The Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Chirag Paswan, inaugurated the event.

During the opening, he emphasized the need to advance Indian agriculture to a new level, increase farmers' incomes, and stimulate food processing. Paswan noted that such a platform is crucial for an agrarian country like India, where farmers, agricultural experts, and industry representatives can gather and discuss ways to develop the agro-sector.

He thanked the India Today group for organizing the event, stating that the two-day dialogue will bring long-term and positive results for the agricultural sector.

The Union Minister stated that farmers are the backbone of India, and despite the large population, the country has not faced a global food crisis, which, in his opinion, is the merit of the farmers. He recalled times when the country experienced grain shortages and noted that thanks to the hard work of farmers, this situation was overcome. Today, India is capable not only of meeting its own food needs but also of contributing to the food security of other countries.

Nevertheless, he acknowledged that much work remains to be done in agriculture. Although India has achieved significant success in increasing grain production and replenishing stocks, it is now time to move forward. The focus needs to shift from simply increasing production volume to enhancing its value.

Chirag Paswan pointed out that while attention has been paid to increasing agricultural production, work in the field of food processing has not been done sufficiently. He explained: 'We have increased production capacity, but we still have much to do in terms of how to turn this production into value and how to present the product to the world.'

Referring to Narendra Modi's vision of a self-reliant India, he noted that the government aims to achieve the country's self-sufficiency in all spheres. The Prime Minister has given great importance to agriculture and food processing alongside manufacturing. It is through food processing that Indian products and dishes can reach every corner of the world.

The Union Minister stated that the Prime Minister strives to transform India into a global food reserve for the entire world. To achieve this, strengthening the food processing system is critically important. He expressed hope that in the future, no table in the world will go without at least one Indian product.

According to him, Indian farmers possess potential, as well as the talent and mindset of the nation. What is required is to expand this system and involve as many people as possible in food processing.

One of the main problems for farmers, according to Chirag Paswan, is the lack of fair prices for their harvest and insufficient storage facilities. He reported that farmers often have to sell their crops at very low prices. In some cases, vegetables such as potatoes, tomatoes, and onions have to be discarded outdoors.

The reason for this is the absence of adequate systems for long-term product storage. Until the shelf life of agricultural products is increased and conditions are created for their long-term preservation in fresh form, farmers may incur losses.

The Minister emphasized that food processing allows for extending the shelf life of agricultural products. This gives farmers the opportunity to store their harvest until they receive a more favorable market and a fair price, instead of selling it immediately at a low price. To achieve this, the possibilities of food processing must be brought to the villages and fields of the country.

Paswan called on the industry to invest in and expand the food processing sector, noting that this is not only the government's duty but also the task of the private sector. The government is ready to develop policies and provide necessary conditions, but private companies and the industry should consider expanding their business and opening new production capacities. As long as food processing units are not located close to farmers' fields, logistics problems will persist, and farmers will not be able to reap the full benefits.

He concluded that mechanisms allowing farmers to process their own produce or improve its quality and shelf life through processing are necessary to increase farmers' incomes. This will enable farmers to receive a better price for their harvest.

India's Green Revolution helped the country transition from food deficit to self-sufficiency in grain production through the use of improved seeds, irrigation, and chemical fertilizers. However, decades later, a new question has arisen for Indian agriculture: is the economic benefit derived by farmers from the excessive use of chemical fertilizers truly beneficial for the entire nation?

Various reports on topics such as agricultural health and energy were published during the COP 31 summit, which began in Turkey. A new study, 'The Economics of Cultivation' by the organization Climate Trending, asserts that the hidden costs of agriculture are rising due to the subsidization of chemical fertilizers, their unbalanced use, and dependence on imports. The report also proposes policy changes to support organic and natural farming.

According to the Climate Trends study, although farmers gain a tangible economic benefit from using chemical fertilizers, the real economic benefit for the country significantly diminishes when state subsidies, greenhouse gas emissions, and environmental damage are taken into account.

The study analyzed the agricultural sector of eight states, including Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.

1. Carbon Emissions from Nitrogen Fertilizers

The production of chemical nitrogen fertilizers relies on fossil fuels such as natural gas and coal. According to the report, the entire supply chain for nitrogen fertilizers generates globally 1.13 gigatons of CO2e. This accounts for about 2.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Of this, 38.8% of emissions come from fertilizer production, 58.6% from nitrous oxide emissions in the fields, and 2.6% from transportation. This demonstrates that the impact of chemical fertilizers on the environment is not limited to factories but also contributes to climate change through their use in the fields.

2. Farmer Profit vs. Real National Economic Benefit

The most important finding of the report highlights the difference between the farmer's private income and the socio-economic benefit to the country. In five studied cases of wheat production, it was found that the socio-economic benefit was 36% to 182% lower than the farmer's private profit, with an average difference of about 90%. For example, in Punjab (2019-20), the net private profit for the farmer was ₹31,901 per hectare, while estimated subsidy costs and emissions amounted to ₹11,554, and the net social benefit for the country was ₹20,347. Thus, while the farmer sees a profit of ₹31,901, the real benefit for the country after deducting public and environmental costs is ₹20,347.

3. High Burden of Subsidies on Punjab and Haryana

In India, during the 2021-22 period, the estimated financial burden on the government for chemical fertilizers was ₹3,630 per hectare. In Haryana, this amount reached ₹5,198, and in Punjab, it was ₹6,283 per hectare. However, in Punjab, this burden increased to ₹14,072 per hectare in 2022-23. This means that in 2022-23, the estimated financial burden in Punjab was approximately 3.88 times higher than the national average for 2021-22. This figure indicates growing financial pressure on the government due to an agrarian system heavily reliant on chemical fertilizers, and it also increases the sensitivity of the state budget to fluctuations in international fertilizer prices.

4. Subsidy Policy Stimulated Unbalanced Use of Nitrogen Fertilizers

According to the report, the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) policy, introduced in 2010, caused an imbalance in the fertilizer market. Although phosphates and potash were included in NBS, the price of urea remained controlled. As a result, the share of nitrogen was 63.9% in 2007-08, then dropped to 58.8% in 2009-10, and rose to 69.9% in 2012-13. After 2010, the annual change in the nitrogen share increased by 4.42 percentage points. In Punjab and Haryana, the ratio of nitrogen to potassium was 21:1 and 20:1, respectively, while the national average was 5:1. The report suggests that the policy supporting a relatively low price for urea distanced farmers from balanced fertilizer use.

5. Dependence on Imports Persists Despite Fertilizer Production Growth

India is the second-largest fertilizer producer in the world, accounting for about 20% of global production volume. Nevertheless, India remains dependent on other countries for many essential fertilizers and raw materials used in their production. According to the report, urea production in India grew from 22.7 million tons in 2013-14 to 30.7 million tons in 2024-25. During the same period, the joint production of DAP and NPK increased from 11 million tons to 15.9 million tons. Despite this, the country imports large volumes of fertilizers. In 2022-23, India imported about 10.2 million tons of urea and 6.7 million tons of DAP, and covers about 90% of its phosphate rock needs through imports. Regarding potash, India is completely dependent on other countries.

The India Today group has announced its international forum, 'Kisan Tak Bharat Agriculture Conference 2026,' which aims to bring revolutionary changes to the agricultural sector. This historic summit will take place on November 11 and 12, 2026, at the prestigious 'Bharat Mandapam' in New Delhi.

The conference will serve as a unique platform dedicated to the issues, successes, and concerns of Indian agriculture and farmers. As this will be the first such unparalleled forum, the largest hall in Delhi, traditionally used for major industry conferences, will be entirely dedicated to farmers.

This two-day forum, organized with the support of Mahindra Tractors and Mahadhan Agritech, is based on a clear goal: 'Smart Farmer, Developed India.' The Ministry of Agriculture and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research are participating partners. The event will attract ambassadors from various countries, heads of international agricultural institutions, and ministers from different departments.

Approximately 2,000 farmers from all corners of the country are expected to participate. In addition to panel discussions, the conference will feature cultural programs showcasing rural life in India, as well as inspiring stories from leading farmers, women entrepreneurs, agricultural economists, and researchers. These individuals have demonstrated how the combination of traditional knowledge and modern technology has brought about changes in rural India.

Special value is placed on the stories of real participants, such as farmers awarded the Padma Shri Rahibai Soma Popere, Trinity Saiyu, Nekram Sharma, Sultan Singh, and Sundaram Varma, who will personally attend to share their experiences.

The program also includes performances by renowned folk singers Padma Shri Prahlad Tapaniya, poet Rudra Pratap Rudra, and Bhojpuri singer Chandan Tiwari. The event will also feature the presence of the famous actor, singer, and MP Manoj Tiwari, enhancing the significance of this major and historic event in Indian agriculture.

The importance of this event is underscored by the fact that 46% of the country's total workforce directly depends on agriculture and related activities. According to the Government of India's Economic Survey for 2025-26, the total grain production in 2024-25 is projected to reach a record 357.73 million tons. The summit focuses on how to transform this vast production potential into a more secure source of income for farmers, increasing profits, and opening up new global opportunities.

Union Minister of Agriculture Shivraj Singh Chouhan noted that the 'Bharat Agriculture Conference' by India Today and Kisan Tak represents a new blueprint for collective prosperity for the country's food producers. He stated that the true foundation of the Prime Minister's 'Developed India 2047' concept lies in the 'smart farmer' and 'health of agriculture.'

Chouhan clarified that smart farming is not just about adopting modern technologies but also ensuring long-term soil health and increasing farmers' incomes by reducing costs. He highly praised the Kisan Tak initiative by the India Today Group to improve farmer literacy, emphasizing that only when agriculture is healthy, the farmer's income will be stable, and they will become smart, can India truly become developed and self-reliant.

The scale of this historic event is confirmed by the official confirmation of participation from figures in national politics, global diplomacy, large industrial enterprises, and agro-science giants.