It is now more evident than ever that Karnataka needs comprehensive agricultural policies and strong stimulation for the farming industry as it enters 2025. Karnataka’s agricultural industry, which once was resilient, is currently dealing with a growing number of difficulties. According to the Economic Survey, the state’s agricultural growth rate declined by 1.7% in 2022-2023 and 5.6% in 2023-2024, which presents a concerning picture. These numbers point towards a struggling industry and emphasize how urgently a new policy approach is required.
A Historical Perspective
Historically, Karnataka’s agricultural industry has demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of a high percentage of rainfall land, inadequate irrigation, frequent droughts, and an unstable long-term policy outlook. Between 1970–71 and 2023–24, the primary sector’s proportion of the state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) grew from Rs 1,063 crore to Rs 3,14,733 crore. The average annual gain resulting from this remarkable rise is Rs 5,800 crore. The share of agriculture in the state’s GSDP, however, has dropped from 52.72% in 1970–71 to just 12.58% in 2023–24 as a result of the services sector’s rapid expansion.
Even though the state’s economy is doing well, efforts to support the agriculture industry cannot be undermined by complacency. Introduced in 1995 and reviewed in 2006, Karnataka’s original agriculture policy expired in 2016, creating a large gap. Since then, there have been no significant attempts to develop a new policy framework—a lapse that the state cannot afford considering the difficulties it faces today.
Alarming Indicators
The findings of the economic survey are a wake-up call. The success of the sector is highly reliant on the monsoon season; hence, it is essential to switch to a more reliable reporting system for agricultural growth. The 65 lakh cultivators in Karnataka would become much more distressed if substantial action is not taken.
With 922 recorded cases in 2022-2023 and 1,061 the following year, farmer suicides are a glaring example of the situation. There has also been a significant drop in the number of cultivators, both primary and secondary. The number of cultivators fell by 3 lakh, from 68.84 lakh to 65.81 lakh, during the 2001 and 2011 population censuses. Since many farmers are turning to urban livelihoods, urban construction sites, or the shadow of large flyovers, this trend has probably accelerated.
The Policy Imperative
Karnataka requires a strong and clear framework for agriculture policy to handle these issues. Below is a list of some essential steps:
- Reviving the Policy Machine
The creation of a specialized policy apparatus for agriculture and related industries must be the state’s top priority. In order to ensure that the agricultural industry runs effectively and sustainably, this machinery should be centered on easing ongoing distress. Through tools like price insurance and improved market access, it should also solve market inefficiencies and give farmers a safety net.
- Crop Pattern Management
Over the years, Karnataka’s agricultural practices have changed dramatically. As of 2023–24, the overall area under cereals has decreased by 9 lakh hectares, from 59.71 lakh hectares in 1970–71. There have been significant drops in the production of ragi, bajra, jowar, and wheat. While the area planted for pulses has grown, cash crops like groundnuts and cotton have decreased by 8.94 lakh hectares.
With a population of 7.24 crore and a food grain consumption of 143.68 lakh tonnes, Karnataka’s food economy is extremely difficult to manage. The government must either promote a change in the way people eat or become more dependent on imports from other states. To achieve self-sufficiency, food grain production must adopt a technology-driven purpose.
- Market Reforms
In both input and output markets, farmers’ dependence on intermediaries continues to be a major problem. The constitutional responsibility to manage agriculture under the 7th Schedule must be enforced by the state. Furthermore, the newly created State Agricultural Prices Commission must have the authority to guarantee market efficiency and price stability. This will guarantee that farmers receive just compensation for their produce and shield them from unfair business practices.
- Empowerment of Farmers
The image of a farmer awakening “into that heaven of freedom” by Rabindranath Tagore strikes a profound chord. It is essential to enable farmers to function autonomously from market exploitation and price dictators. This calls for structural adjustments to governance and policy that prioritize the autonomy and well-being of farmers.
The Road Ahead
The agricultural industry in Karnataka is at a turning point. Its difficulties are not impossible to overcome, but they are in need of prompt action. The state can provide the conditions for long-term growth by reviving policy machinery, tackling issues with agricultural patterns, reorganizing markets, and empowering farmers.
Furthermore, the state needs to take proactive measures to lessen the effects of climate change, which is becoming a bigger danger to agricultural output. Adoption of sustainable farming methods, research and development of drought-resistant crops, and investments in irrigation infrastructure will all be crucial.
Conclusion
It is impossible to overestimate the importance of a strong agricultural strategy and ongoing stimulation. Over the years, Karnataka’s farmers have demonstrated incredible endurance, but they cannot be sustained by resilience alone in the face of growing difficulties. For agriculture to continue to be a viable and prosperous industry, legislators, stakeholders, and the farming community must work together.
Let 2025 be the year when Karnataka makes a fresh commitment to its farmers, attending to their needs with promptness and forethought. By doing this, the state preserves the heritage of an economy that has persevered through hardships and come out stronger, in addition to securing its agricultural future. Now is the moment to take action, and future generations will benefit from it.