Agriculture sector to grow 3.5-4% in FY25: Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan

New Delhi: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday said that the country's agriculture and allied sector is expected to grow at 3.5-4 per cent in 2024-25 marking a significant improvement from the 1.4 per cent rise recorded in FY24.

In a New Year message posted on social media platform X, Chouhan expressed confidence in India's development trajectory under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, highlighting various rural welfare initiatives implemented in the past six months.

"The New Year has brought good news that the growth rate of agriculture and allied sectors is likely to be 3.5 to 4 per cent this year," Chouhan said.

The projected growth represents a substantial increase from the previous fiscal year's agricultural growth rate of 1.4 per cent.

The minister emphasised ongoing efforts to ensure fair prices for farmers' produce and pointed to several rural development programmes, including housing for the poor, village road connectivity, skill development, and the Lakhpati Didi campaign aimed at improving rural livelihoods.

He also highlighted the role of MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) in providing employment to rural labourers.

Separately, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that The Narendra Modi government stands with farmers like a protective shield and it has reiterated this resolve on the very first day of 2025.

"The Modi government stands with farmers like a protective shield and today, on the very first day of 2025, it has reiterated this resolve. The decision of additional subsidy on DAP will ensure that DAP is available to our farmers at a reasonable price even if its prices increase in the international markets. Thanks to Modiji for this special package," Shah wrote in a post in Hindi on X.

Shah's comments came after the Union Cabinet announced a one-time package to subsidise key fertiliser DAP at the cost of up to Rs 3,850 crore and approved a one-year extension of two crop-insurance schemes.