PR No – 33
8th December 2025
New Delhi
Crop Nutrition Experts Chart Path to Triple Agri GDP at Agribusiness Summit
New Delhi, December 8, 2025: The Agribusiness Summit 2025 commenced today at the Hotel Taj Palace, New Delhi, with a powerful focus on “Tripling the Agricultural GDP by Using New Technology and Quality Agri Inputs.” Bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, innovators, and farmers, the summit aims to explore and promote cutting-edge technologies and superior agricultural inputs that can revolutionize productivity and sustainability in the Indian agriculture sector. This platform sets the stage for meaningful dialogue and collaboration to unlock India’s vast agricultural potential.
Crop nutrition stands as a vital foundation for elevating India’s agricultural output, playing a key role in enhancing soil fertility, boosting crop yields, and advancing the goal of tripling agri GDP. This session convened leaders from cooperatives, fertilizer giants, export promotion bodies, and innovative life sciences firms to delve into smart nutrient management, bio-based solutions, and sustainable application methods that deliver results without harming the environment. The exchange spotlighted practical strategies to close yield gaps and empower farmers with tools for long-term prosperity.
Dr. Sudhanshu, Secretary, APEDA, emphasized the critical role of crop nutrition, quality assurance, and organized supply chains in boosting India’s agricultural productivity and exports. He highlighted the need for modern infrastructure, citing potato clusters in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat where cold storage facilities must embrace the latest technology to preserve quality. Dr. Sudhanshu underscored APEDA’s strong network of NABL-accredited laboratories for rigorous testing to maintain high standards from farm to export. He shared success stories such as the significant impact of India’s grape exports in Europe through traceability systems and quality control, replicated successfully for pomegranate and peanut exports. Recent efforts include customized non-Basmati rice exports to Japan, showcasing India’s adaptability to global market demands. Dr. Sudhanshu stressed that with better supply chain organization, quality inputs, and focused marketing strategies, India can confidently double or triple its agricultural GDP in the near future, benefiting both domestic consumers and international buyers.
Justice Dr. Sudhir Kumar Jain- Retd, Delhi High Court, Retd. Hon’ble Judge Delhi High Court, Member Judicial- National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), called for urgent consumer rights education for farmers as India’s agri-tech sector ranks 3rd globally after USA-China, noting nearly 50% of Indians, including hardworking rural families like those from his Haryana village, still don’t know their protections under the consumer-friendly 2019 Act. Highlighting the shift from 1986’s “buyer beware” era to today’s summary proceedings across district/state/national forums for defective seeds, PM Fasal Bima claim denials, or damages like Punjab field fires, he praised class actions allowing 10-20 affected farmers to file collectively via NGOs or associations. Urging “Jaago Grahak Jaago” to reach every village, Justice Jain envisioned secure rights transforming farming into an aspirational career that doubles incomes and triples agri GDP contribution.
Mr. R.K. Goyal, Managing Director, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia & New Zealand, Verdesian Life Sciences, shared a heartfelt reflection on agriculture’s transformation, recalling how 40 years ago it was a fallback choice lacking prestige, but now a minister has rightly called for it to become a respectable business. With 47-50% of Indians tied to farming yet often underserved, many village farmers lacking even basic clothes, shoes, or app knowledge, he visits them 20 days a month and sees hope in Gujarat’s remarkable 5-year growth, like Bhuj farmers cultivating dragon fruit and sugar melon. Mr. Goyal highlighted India’s third-place global seed production ranking amid a $50 billion market set to hit $84 billion soon, seed nutrition demos yielding 15-20% gains across 200-250 villages and 92 wheat trials, plus government-approved technology enabling 30-40% DAP reduction at just 800 grams per acre for stronger plants and lower costs- urging collective action to boost productivity and triple agri GDP.
Mr. Ashok Thakur, Director, NAFED, emphasized the pivotal role of farmer institutions in turning government policies into tangible results, the speaker showcased NAFED’s inspiring turnaround since 2014—from a Rs. 3,200 crore loss with just 1-1.5 lakh tons procurement to a Rs. 550 crore profit last year, including a dramatic 76 lakh ton procurement surge in 2018-19. He explained how overcoming buffer stock shortages from 2,500 tons (25% spoilage) to 5 lakh tons through farmgate storage partnerships created 30,000 jobs in Nashik, lifted onion recovery rates from 45-50% to 72%, and saved the government Rs. 400-500 crore.
Adv. Akhil Mittal, Senior Government/ Institutional Counsel, urged relentless awareness campaigns across towns, cities, and even the smallest villages, he emphasized starting with genuine seed and product education to help farmers distinguish beneficial inputs from duplicates. Small meetings with authentic manufacturers should verify production norms and quality standards before distribution. Farmers must be empowered with knowledge of their rights under the Consumer Protection Act, including immediate action against counterfeit sales through pre-formatted complaint registers, ensuring protection from substandard products right at the village level.
Mr. Dileep Sanghani, Chair, Cooperatives Committee, PHDCCI, called for stricter departmental oversight to curb malpractices involving expired or substandard fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides that harm farmers and soil health. He pointed out that while special teams were formed to address such cases, progress remains slow even after years, with incidents rising annually- around 20 such issues in India compared to far fewer in developed countries due to rigorous enforcement. Despite climate challenges, Mr. Sanghani urged proactive steps in technology, quality inputs, and crop protection to minimize losses and drive agricultural advancement forward.
The session ended with clear agreement on embedding modern crop nutrition practices into farming routines to fuel rapid growth. Participants called for widespread soil health checks, tailored nutrient plans, and hands-on training for growers to unlock maximum potential. This targeted focus offers farmers better profits alongside a sustainable route to India’s bold agricultural future.