India’s agriculture sector holds strong potential to drive future growth, says NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery

Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, Suman Bery, has said that India’s agriculture sector holds strong potential to drive future growth. He described it as a sunrise sector that requires higher productivity and innovation to support the country’s development goals. Mr Bery said this while releasing the report in New Delhi, outlining a Roadmap for horticulture development in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Highlighting the importance of agriculture in India’s growth story, Mr Bery said that with the country having one of the largest arable land bases in the world, it is essential to move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach. He stressed the need to differentiate between cereals, horticulture and animal husbandry, calling it crucial for policy planning. Emphasising productivity as the key driver, he noted that generating employment alone is not sufficient unless it leads to higher labour productivity and increased real incomes.
He said both land productivity and labour productivity must improve to support sustainable economic growth. Referring to global examples, he cited the success of the Netherlands as a major agricultural exporter despite its small size, attributing it to intensive use of technology and resources. He said similar models could be adapted in regions like Jammu and Kashmir.