PRAGATI Project: Key Features, Benefits and Impact on Indian Agriculture

Honourable Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the PRAGATI (Promoting Regenerative Agriculture, Growth, Agri-Entrepreneurship and Transformative Innovation) initiative. This program seeks to empower 20,000 rural agri-entrepreneurs while improving the livelihoods of 20 lakhs small and marginal farmers. It is designed as a multi-partner initiative, this program initiative focuses on sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, rural entrepreneurship and technology-driven farming.

What Is the PRAGATI Project?

PRAGATI is a nationwide initiative aimed at to transforming Indian agriculture via agri-entrepreneurship, regenerative farming, digital innovation and value addition.

Rather than just focusing only on increasing crop production, this program seeks to make farming more profitable by improving productivity, reducing cultivation costs and creating new income opportunities.

This initiative also recognises many small and marginal farmers who require support beyond traditional farming. Also, by promoting rural entrepreneurship, scientific farming practices, and stronger market linkages, PRAGATI aims to build a sustainable agricultural ecosystem which benefits both the farmers and rural youth.

Key Objectives of PRAGATI

This project offers several ambitious goals that are designed to accelerate rural development and agricultural transformation.

The major objectives include,

• Empower 20,000 rural youth as agri-entrepreneurs.
• Benefit more than 20 lakh small and marginal farmers.
• Increase the farmers income via value addition and crop diversification.
• It promotes climate-resilient and regenerative agricultural practices.
• Improve access to the technology, mechanization, and digital advisory services.
• Expand financial inclusion and also strengthen market connectivity.

How PRAGATI Will Support Farmers

Under this initiative, trained agri-entrepreneurs will serve as the illage-level resource person, they providing practical support to the farmers.

Their services will includes, soil testing and soil health management, scientific crop advisories, farm mechanization and machine rental services and financial literacy and access to institutional credit.

These interventions are also expected to reduce the production costs along with improving productivity and farm profitability.

States Covered Under the Initiative

The PRAGATI project will initially be implemented across several major agricultural states, including the,

• Madhya Pradesh
• Uttar Pradesh
• Bihar
• Maharashtra
• Rajasthan
• West Bengal
• Assam
• Jharkhand

These states represent a large share of India’s smallholder farming population and they provide an ideal foundation for the scaling of this program nationwide.

Public-Private Partnership for the Agricultural Transformation

PRAGATI is envisioned as the India’s largest private-sector-led agri-entrepreneurship program. This initiative brings together several national and international organisations, which include,

• PepsiCo Foundation
• State Bank of India Foundation (SBIF)
• Gates Foundation
• IDH
• Heifer International
• Environmental Defence Fund (EDF)
• Global Agri Entrepreneurship Academy
• Sustainable Agriculture Foundations International Association (SAFIA)
• Agri Entrepreneur Growth Foundation (AEGF)
• Transform Rural India Foundation (TRIF)