Innovations in Production Technologies in India

From once a net importer of food during 1960s, India has emerged not only as self-sufficient but has become a net exporter. And all this has happened as a result of series of innovations in production technologies ranging from seeds (high yielding, genetically modified and climate-resilient) that resulted in higher productivity, protection of crops from pests, increase in mineral, vitamin and protein content, to farming practices addressing how to apply water (irrigation), fertilisers, pesticides, machinery that saves on costs and promotes sustainable agriculture. Innovations in drip irrigation with fertigation, soil health cards, neem coating of urea and custom hiring (‘Uberisation’) of farm machinery have yielded encouraging results and need further scaling up. In fact, innovations make an impact beyond production technologies into the field of institutions that ensure effective implementation of policies, into trade, marketing and storage of agri-produce which bring higher value to the farmers. In this paper, we spell out major innovations in production technologies in Indian agriculture which have had a significant impact on overall productivity and production, and also touch on innovations that are currently unfolding in inputs and production processes such as innovations in precision agriculture using smart technologies—artificial intelligence, drones, Internet of things (IoT), remote sensing, etc., and innovations in protected agriculture (poly-houses), hydroponics, aeroponics and aquaponics. Therefore, this chapter aims to cover innovations spreading all along the agri-value chains, from farm to fork, or, more aptly in a demand-driven system, from “plate to plough”.