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Context

The Chief Economist of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) urged India to invest more in diversifying its food production. He highlighted that 40.4% of Indians cannot afford a healthy diet, a sharp improvement from 74.1% in 2021 (FAO Report 2023).  

What is Food Diversification?

Food diversification means growing a variety of crops like pulses, millets, oilseeds, fruits, and vegetables, alongside livestock and fisheries, instead of focusing only on rice and wheat. It aims to:

• Improve nutrition with protein-rich pulses and vitamin-packed vegetables.
• Boost farmers’ incomes through high-value crops.
• Make farming sustainable by using climate-friendly crops like millets.

This shift is urgent because India’s current food system, built on the Green Revolution, prioritizes cereals, leaving gaps in nutrition and environmental health.

Why India Need Food Production Diversification?

Better Nutrition

Over 35% of Indian children under five are stunted (National Family Health Survey-5).

A study by the Lancet reveals that most Indians are deficient in several micronutrients particularly, iron, calcium and folate. Compared to men, more women were deficient in iodine.

Diversifying to pulses (rich in protein) and fruits (high in vitamins) ensures healthier diets.  

Stable Farmer Incomes

Growing only rice or wheat risks losses when prices drop. High-value crops like vegetables or dairy provide higher income. Diversification protects farmers from market shocks and boosts rural jobs, especially for women.

Climate Resilience

Agriculture uses 80% of India’s irrigation water, straining resources amid erratic rains. Cultivation Millets and pulses requires less water/fertilizers pesticides, and can be grown in low fertile soil. These crops withstand droughts, supporting the goal of net-zero emissions by 2070.

Less Import Dependence

India spends over Rs 80,000 crore yearly on edible oil imports and relies on pulse imports (Source: Economic Times). Growing more oilseeds and pulses cuts this cost, saving foreign exchange and strengthening food security.

How India’s Food System Evolved?

The Green Revolution (1960s-70s) made India self-sufficient in rice and wheat, with cereal production hitting 330 million tonnes in 2024. But policies like Minimum Support Price (MSP) and subsidies favored cereals, sidelining pulses and millets. This caused:

• Import reliance: India imports over 55% of edible oil needs.
• Nutritional gaps: 67.1% of children and 59.1% of adolescent girls in India are anemic (NFHS-5).
• Environmental harm: Overuse of water and fertilizers degrades farmland. According to FAO reports, in India, about 32% of the land is degraded, and 25% is undergoing desertification.

What Are the Challenges in Food Production Diversification?

Policy Focus on Cereals: MSP covers mainly rice and wheat, discouraging farmers from growing pulses or millets.

Weak Infrastructure: Poor Transport system and inadequate cold storage, causing losses.

• India’s post-harvest losses amount to about ₹1,52,790 crore annually, according to a Ministry of Food Processing Industries 2022 study. 
• The biggest loss is from perishable commodities, which include livestock produce such as eggs, fish and meat (22%), fruits (19%) and vegetables (18%). 

Market Risks: Prices for non-cereal crops fluctuate, deters farmers. Global tariff wars add uncertainty, hurting small farmers most.

Supply chain weaknesses: Fragmented and inefficient supply chains hinder the smooth flow of diversified produce from farm to market, impacting price realization for farmers. 

Land fragmentation: The average farm size in India is 1.08 hectares as per the Agriculture Census 2015-16. Small, fragmented landholdings make it difficult to adopt diversified, mechanized farming practices efficiently. 

Knowledge gaps: Many farmers lack the technical knowledge, improved seeds, and access to extension services needed for new or diverse crops.

Soil degradation: Decades of monoculture have led to soil health degradation, making it harder to introduce new crops without soil improvement efforts. 

Government Steps to Support Diversification

Policy and market support

National Food Security Mission (NFSM) expanded to include pulses, oilseeds, and coarse cereals (nutri-cereals) in addition to wheat and rice. It provides subsidies for seeds, improved farm machinery, and farmer training.

MSP for diverse crops: Government announces MSPs for 22 mandated crops, including pulses, oilseeds, and some commercial crops.

Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) procures horticultural and other agricultural commodities not covered by MSP to protect farmers from distress sales during price drops.  

Infrastructure and technology development

Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) provides medium-to-long term debt financing for investment in post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets.

Schemes like the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) promote the growth of fruits, vegetables, and other high-value horticultural crops by providing assistance for planting material, infrastructure development, and value addition.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) promotes micro-irrigation (drip and sprinkler systems) to reduce water usage, making it feasible to grow less water-intensive, diversified crops.

E-NAM (National Agriculture Market) creates a unified national market for agricultural commodities, to improve price discovery for farmers. 

Soil Health Card Scheme: Promotes balanced fertilization based on soil analysis, which is crucial for the successful cultivation of diverse crops with varying nutrient requirements. 

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN): While not directly tied to diversification, the direct income support of ₹6,000 annually to eligible farmer families helps ease financial pressure and allows for investment in new crops.

Way Forward

Expand MSP: Include more pulses, millets, and oilseeds under MSP, using Price Deficiency Payment Schemes for non-cereals.

Boost Agro-processing: Strengthen food processing for diverse crops to increase value and reduce waste.

Promote Sustainable Practices: Incentivize regenerative agriculture for soil health and resource efficiency.

Improve Market Linkages: Enhance e-NAM for better market access and pricing.

Upgrade Post-Harvest Infrastructure: Invest in cold chains, warehouses, and solar micro-cooling units.

Advance Research: Develop high-yielding, resilient varieties of millets, pulses, and oilseeds.

Enhance Skills: Train farmers on new crops and marketing, promoting AI in agriculture production and management.

Region-Specific Plans: Tailor strategies to local agro-climatic conditions (e.g., water-efficient crops in Green Revolution states, millets in rainfed areas).

Conclusion

Diversifying India’s food production with pulses, millets, and vegetables boosts nutrition, farmer income, and sustainability while reducing hunger, climate risks, and import dependence.

Source: THEHINDU