Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said that the roadmap to Viksit Bharat @2047 hinges on transforming Indian agriculture into a system that is smart, sustainable and profitable. He was speaking at the inauguration of the 6th International Agronomy Congress (IAC-2025) at the NPL Auditorium, Pusa Campus, New Delhi.
Addressing over 1,000 delegates from India and abroad, Chouhan emphasised that the future of Indian agriculture would depend on the country’s ability to “produce more with fewer resources while conserving more for future generations.” Calling agronomy the “bridge between scientific research and the farmer’s field,” he underscored the need for optimisation of soil health, water-use efficiency, biodiversity enhancement, eco-nutrition and wider adoption of digital agriculture tools.
Chouhan released the IAC-2025 Declaration, which outlines recommendations aimed at reshaping the direction of Indian agriculture. These include promoting soil-carbon sequestration, boosting water-efficient farming, expanding AI-driven digital agriculture solutions, mainstreaming natural and regenerative farming models, and implementing innovation programmes targeting youth and women farmers. The declaration also aligns agricultural strategies with the LiFE Mission and India’s Net-Zero 2070 commitments.
The Minister said the government would incorporate relevant recommendations from the Congress into national policies and regional action plans to ensure that scientific advancements translate into field-level impact. “Research priorities must be aligned with the primary challenges faced by farmers,” he stated.
The Congress, organised by the Indian Society of Agronomy in collaboration with ICAR, IARI, NAAS and TAAS, brings together scientists, policymakers, industry leaders, development partners and students. Experts from global organisations including FAO, CIMMYT, ICRISAT, IRRI, ICARDA and IFDC are participating.