Agricultural R&D Funding: Case for Research-Led Resilience
Why in the news
Experts argued that farm growth must now come from productivity, innovation and diversification rather than more cultivated land, pointing to ICAR’s finding on research contributions.
Key facts
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| Return on ₹1 of research | ₹13.85 |
| Return on ₹1 of extension | ₹7.40 |
| Research and Education budget 2026-27 | ₹9,266 crore (₹4,836 crore in 2014-15) |
| Crop varieties released in 2025 | 386, of which 94% climate-resilient and 29 biofortified |
Concerns
- About 73% of agricultural spending goes to subsidies and welfare, leaving little for research.
- India’s R&D outlay is 0.6-0.7% of GDP, below many major economies.
- Pressures: shrinking holdings, soil degradation, groundwater depletion, climate change with erratic monsoons, and rising pests and diseases.
Why R&D matters
- Develops climate-resilient, high-yielding varieties.
- Improves soil health and water-use efficiency.
- Promotes diversification into horticulture, livestock and fisheries.
- Strengthens food security and resilience.
Way forward
- Raise and stabilise research funding.
- Strengthen extension for faster adoption.
- Link ICAR, universities, startups and private players.
- Encourage precision farming, biotechnology and digital agriculture.
Key terms
- ICAR: apex body for agricultural research and education.
- GERD: total national research spending as a share of GDP.
- ANRF: set up under the ANRF Act, 2023.
- Biofortified crops: enriched with nutrients such as iron, zinc and vitamin A.