As India celebrates record-breaking agricultural and horticultural production — surpassing 330 million and 350 million tonnes, respectively — a deeper crisis threatens its future. India’s agricultural sustainability is under serious threat, with water scarcity and socio-economic vulnerabilities emerging as major concerns. While production soars, the fragile foundations of sustainability could jeopardise long-term food security and rural livelihoods if urgent action is not taken.
The policy paper titled ‘A spatial assessment of sustainability in Indian agriculture’ published last year by the National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research (ICAR) reveals that agricultural sustainability in India presents a mixed picture, with soil health emerging as the most stable factor, while socio-economic and water resource sustainability show significant inconsistencies.
ICAR developed a Composite Index of Agricultural Sustainability based on 51 indicators encompassing environmental health, soil and water quality, and socioeconomic development. The national average value of the index is 0.49, indicating a moderate level of sustainability in Indian agriculture.
State Analysis
States such as Mizoram, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, West Bengal, and Uttarakhand have performed above the national average, benefiting from significant crop diversification, improved agricultural infrastructure, enhanced farm credit access, and sustainable input usage. Conversely, Rajasthan, characterised by its arid conditions, ranks lowest in agricultural sustainability.
The report highlights that states in the Indo-Gangetic plains, including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, and Haryana, along with rice-dominant states such as Jharkhand and Assam, face heightened risk due to climate change impacts.
Soil, Water and Biodiversity
The deterioration of soil quality, water resources, and biodiversity has become increasingly evident, particularly in the intensively cultivated regions of Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh. Groundwater depletion is a major concern in Punjab, Rajasthan, and Haryana, where extraction rates have surpassed recharge levels by 66 per cent, 51 per cent, and 34 per cent, respectively.
According to the latest assessment report, groundwater has been overexploited in 76 per cent of the assessed blocks in Punjab, 72 per cent in Rajasthan, and 61 per cent in Haryana. Additionally, over 16 per cent of the country’s water bodies are currently non-functional due to various factors.
Rising water salinity and increasing grey water footprints have emerged as significant threats to agricultural sustainability. Currently, 2.23 per cent of the aquifers are saline, marking a sharp rise from 0.52 per cent in 2004. This issue is particularly severe in West Bengal (17.39 per cent), Andhra Pradesh (5.86 per cent), and Gujarat (5.16 per cent).
If the current trend of groundwater depletion persists, cropping intensity across India may decline by 20 per cent, with groundwater-depleted regions experiencing a more than two-thirds reduction.
The report adds that India receives 80 per cent of its rainfall in four months (June to September). The rainfall is erratic, often leading to floods and droughts. The number of dry spells — a continuous period of two or more weeks during the monsoon season with a daily precipitation of less than 2.5mm — has increased significantly, especially in the rainfed regions.
