ICAR to cap rice, wheat area under crop diversification plan; forms 52 task teams for 2047 roadmap
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has launched a strategic roadmap for 2047, focusing on crop diversification, technological adoption, and increased output.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has unveiled a comprehensive crop diversification roadmap extending to 2047. A core component of this strategy involves capping the acreage for rice at 53-55 million hectares, with similar reductions planned for wheat. The diverted land is intended to be used for maize, nutritional cereals, pulses, and horticulture crops to ensure more sustainable and diverse agricultural production.
ICAR Director General M. L. Jat noted that the plan was finalized in consultation with NITI Aayog. To facilitate this transition, ICAR has established 52 task teams across its various institutions. These teams operate under a defined "theory of change" framework, designed to drive demand-led research and ensure that agricultural practices evolve in response to both environmental needs and national nutrition targets.
The roadmap sets ambitious performance benchmarks for 2047, aiming to increase total agricultural production to 2.1 billion tonnes. A critical pillar of the strategy is the expansion of farm mechanization from the current 47% to over 80%. Additionally, the council aims to improve nutrient use efficiency from 35% to over 75% and optimize water use efficiency between 40-80%. A major goal is the total eradication of post-harvest losses, which currently stand at 20%.
To support these long-term objectives, ICAR has launched "HARVEST" (Harnessing Agri-Food Research, Vibrant Extension and Education for Science-led Transformation), an integrated scheme that consolidates eight existing programs. This scheme will be backed by the Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Impact Assessment (MELIA) platform to ensure transparency and effectiveness. ICAR is also creating state-specific agricultural roadmaps, with initiatives already presented for states like Uttar Pradesh, Assam, and West Bengal.
Reflecting on past performance, ICAR reported a production increase of 19 million tonnes in foodgrains last year, valued at 60,000 crore rupees. Furthermore, 386 crop varieties were released in 2025, 94% of which were climate-resilient. The research organization also reported significant advancements in livestock management, including an 85% reduction in foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks and a notable 85% decrease in stubble burning, contributing significantly to environmental health.