Agriculture and Allied Sectors in India

Agriculture and allied activities such as forestry, logging, and fishing are very important parts of the Indian economy. Together, these sectors contributed about 18.4 percent of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The sector is also the largest source of employment in the country. Around 51.2 crore people, or about 45.5 percent of India’s workforce, are employed in agriculture and related activities.

India is one of the world’s major agricultural producers and has the largest area of arable land in the world, followed by the United States. However, the country’s agricultural production still remains below its full potential.

Declining Share in GDP but Major Employer

The contribution of agriculture to India’s GDP has steadily declined over time. In 1951, agriculture accounted for about 52 percent of the country’s GDP. By 2023, its share had fallen to around 15 percent. Agriculture and allied sectors (including forestry and fishing) contributed about 16% to 18% of India’s GDP for FY24. Despite this decline, agriculture continues to be the largest employment provider in India.

Since 1950, crop yield per unit area has increased. This improvement has been supported by special focus on agriculture in India’s Five-Year Plans, expansion of irrigation systems, improvements in farming technology, the use of modern agricultural practices, and the availability of agricultural credit and government subsidies, especially after the Green Revolution.

However, when compared internationally, agricultural productivity in India remains lower than the global average. The average yield of crops in India is about 30 to 50 percent lower than the highest yields recorded in the world.

Major Agricultural States

Several Indian states make significant contributions to agricultural production. These include Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, West Bengal, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.

Water Resources and Irrigation

India receives an average annual rainfall of about 1,208 millimetres. The country’s total annual precipitation is estimated at around 4,000 billion cubic metres. Out of this, about 1,123 billion cubic metres of water resources, including surface water and groundwater, are considered usable.

About 546,820 square kilometres of land, or roughly 39 percent of the total cultivated area, is irrigated. This means a large portion of Indian agriculture still depends on rainfall.

Fisheries Sector

India’s inland water and marine resources also play a significant role in providing employment and supporting the economy. The fisheries sector provides jobs to nearly 6 million people.

India is the world’s second-largest fish-producing country (roughly 195 lakh tonnes in FY 2024-25), with a 15% annual budget increase supporting sector growth via PMMSY. Fisheries contribute ~7.4% to agriculture GVA, employing ~28 million people with a 17.8 lakh MT, ₹60,523 crore export value in 2023-24, driven heavily by inland aquaculture.

  • Total Production: Increased to over 195 lakh tonnes by 2024–25, doubling from 96 lakh tonnes in 2013-14.
  • Inland vs. Marine: Inland fisheries constitute the majority of production (over 130 lakh tonnes), followed by inland aquaculture.
  • Exports: 17,81,602 MT of seafood valued at ₹60,523.89 crore in 2023-24.
  • Top Producers: Andhra Pradesh leads in inland production, while India overall is the second-largest aquaculture producer globally.
  • Employment: Approximately 28 million people are engaged in the sector, with a significant 12 million women employed, particularly in post-harvest activities.
  • Consumption: Tripura recorded the highest per capita fish consumption (25-29 kg/year).

Major Initiatives & Infrastructure

  • PMMSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana): This is the key scheme aimed at sustainable development, focusing on infrastructure like cold storages (730+), ice plants, and fish transport facilities.
  • Blue Revolution: Early initiatives focusing on enhancing production and productivity.
  • Data Collection: Fishery Survey of India (FSI) maintains extensive catch and species data, with the National Marine Fisheries Census 2025 digitizing data collection across 5,000+ villages.
  • Infrastructure Fund: Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) provides loans for developing infrastructure, including fishing harbors. 

Major Agricultural Products

In 2024–25, India continued its agricultural growth, with milk production reaching an estimated 247.87 million tonnes, pulses production at approximately 252.38 lakh tonnes, and raw jute production estimated around 73 lakh bales (each 180 kg) for the 2024–25 season. These figures represent a strong year for India’s food production sectors.

India’s Production Estimates (2024–2025)

  • Milk Production:
    • 2024–25 Total: 247.87 million tonnes.
    • Growth: Increased by 3.58% over the previous year.
    • Per Capita Availability: 485 grams/day.
    • India remains the world’s largest milk producer.
  • Pulses Production:
    • 2024–25 Total: 252.38 lakh tonnes (third advance estimate).
    • Key Varieties: Gram (111.14 lakh tonnes) and Tur/pigeon pea (34.55 lakh tonnes) are primary contributors.
    • Future Goal: India launched a new mission in October 2025 to increase production to 350 lakh tonnes by 2030–31.
  • Jute Production:
    • 2024–25 Season: Estimated at 73 lakh bales of 180 kg each.
    • 2025–26 Projection: Early estimates for the 2025–26 season indicate a slight increase to 75 lakh bales.
    • Top Producers: West Bengal (79.85%), Bihar (9.62%), and Assam (8.29%) contribute over 97% of the total, according to the Economic Survey 2025-26 Statistical Appendix.
  • Overall Agricultural Context: Total foodgrain production in 2024–25 was estimated to be 347.44 million tonnes

India’s Agriculture Production

As per the Second Advance Estimates for 2025–26, Kharif foodgrain production is estimated at 1741.44 LMT and Rabi foodgrain production at 1745.13 LMT. This is approximately 46 LMT (2.8%) and 53 LMT (3.2%) higher, respectively, compared to last year’s Kharif foodgrain production of 1694.60 LMT and Rabi foodgrain production of 1691.66 LMT.

Kharif Rice production is estimated at 1239.28 LMT as compared to 1227.72 LMT in 2024-25, showing an increase of 11.56 LMT. Production of Rabi Rice is estimated at 167.20 LMT. Production of Wheat is estimated at 1202.10 LMT, which is higher by 22.65 LMT as compared to previous year production of 1179.45 LMT.

Production of Shree Anna (Kharif) is estimated at 123.43 LMT and Shree Anna(Rabi) is estimated at 30.98 LMT. Kharif maize production is estimated at a record 302.47 LMT and Rabi maize production at a record 159.03 LMT, resulting in strong growth in Nutri/coarse cereals as well. Nutri/coarse cereals (Kharif) production is estimated at 425.89 LMT and Nutri/coarse cereals (Rabi) production at 213.41 LMT.

Production of Tur and Gram is estimated at 34.55 LMT and 117.92 LMT, respectively and the production of Lentil is estimated at 17.33 LMT.

The production of Kharif and Rabi Groundnut is estimated at 112.94 LMT & 7.97 LMT, respectively. Kharif Groundnut production is higher by 8.82 LMT as compared to previous year Kharif groundnut production of 104.12 LMT. The production of Soybean is estimated at 127.20 LMT and Rapeseed & Mustard is estimated at 133.31 LMT. The production of Cotton is estimated at 290.91 Lakh Bales (of 170 Kg each) and production of Sugarcane is estimated at5001.97 LMT.

While preparing the kharif crop production estimates the Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) based yield has been considered. Further, CCEs of few crops viz., Tur, Sugarcane, Castor etc. are still ongoing. The Rabi crop production is based on the average yield and are subject to change in the successive estimates on the receipt of better yield estimates based on CCEs.

The details of production of various crops (Kharif & Rabi) are given as under:

Kharif Foodgrains– 1741.44 LMT/ Rabi Foodgrains(Excluding Summer)– 1745.13 LMT

  • Kharif Rice – 1239.28 LMT (Record); Rabi Rice(Excluding Summer) – 167.20 LMT
  • Wheat – 1202.10 LMT (Record)
  • Kharif Maize –302.47 LMT (Record); Rabi Maize(Excluding Summer)– 159.03 LMT (Record)
  • Kharif Shree Anna– 123.43 LMT; Rabi Shree Anna – 30.98 LMT
  • Tur – 34.55 LMT
  • Gram – 117.92 LMT
  • Lentil – 17.33 LMT

Kharif Oilseeds– 265.33 LMT / Rabi Oilseeds(Excluding Summer)– 144.65 LMT

  • Kharif Groundnut – 112.94 LMT (Record); Rabi Groundnut(Excluding Summer)– 7.97 LMT
  • Soybean – 127.20 LMT
  • Rapeseed & Mustard – 133.31 LMT (Record)

Sugarcane – 5001.97 LMT (Record)

Cotton – 290.91 Lakh Bales (170 Kgs. each)

Jute – 81.27 Lakh Bales (180 Kgs. each)