RAJASTHAN'S AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE

Having evolved significantly over the decades, Rajasthan's agriculture and allied sectors now play a crucial role in driving the state's economic growth. With a strong emphasis on climate-smart agriculture and agri-entrepreneurship, Rajasthan is poised not only to secure its own food and nutrition needs but also to contribute meaningfully to national food security

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Rajasthan's agricultural landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation since the State was formally established on March 30, 1949.

The total cultivated area has expanded from 97.55 lakh hectares in 1951-52 to 281.71 lakh hectares in 2022-23, with crop intensity rising from 105 to 153 in the same period. Food grain production surged from 33.86 lakh tonnes in 1952-53 to 240.3 lakh tonnes in 2023-24. Oilseed production increased from 1.34 lakh MT to 101.07 MT, while pulses rose from 4.98 MT to 33.29 MT.

The yield, measured in Kilograms per hectare is an objective indicator of increase in productivity. In the same period, the yield of wheat increased from 1075 to 3869, ground nut from 448 to 2281 and kharif pulses from 109 to 367.

Today, Rajasthan leads the country in the production of mustard, nutri-cereals, pearl millet, oilseeds, psyllium husk, and cumin. It ranks second in groundnuts, fenugreek, and fennel, and third in soybean, gram, pulses, coriander, and celery. These achievements stem from government initiatives, expanded irrigation, and the adoption of modern farming techniques, including climate-resilient practices and precision agriculture.

Agriculture's contribution to Rajasthan's economy has evolved over time. In 1954-55, it accounted for 40% of the state's income, peaking at 63.17% in 1973-74 before declining to 38.44% in 1998-99 due to industrial and service sector expansion. Today, agriculture and allied sectors contribute 27% to Rajasthan's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), compared to 16% at the national level. Additionally, 51.05 % of the state's population is engaged in agriculture, compared to 46.1% across India. Interestingly, women cultivators constitute 45% of Rajasthan's total cultivators, against a national average of 30%.

PLANNING: LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY FOR SMART AGRICULTURE