**Executive Summary**
This document summarizes Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan's reaction to the Economic Survey, highlighting the strength of Indian agriculture and rural India. The survey demonstrates unprecedented progress in agriculture and rural development under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Key achievements include sustained growth in agriculture, increased horticulture output, and historic expansion of infrastructure in rural India. This information was released on February 2, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Agricultural Growth:**
* The agriculture and allied sectors have recorded an average annual growth rate of 4.4 percent at constant prices over the past five years.
* The agricultural sector posted a decadal growth rate of 4.45 percent from FY 2016 to 2025, the highest compared to previous decades.
* In the second quarter of FY 2025-26, the agriculture sector registered a growth rate of 3.5 percent.
* **Foodgrain and Horticultural Production:**
* In FY 2024-25, India's foodgrain production reached a record level of 357.73 million tonnes.
* Horticulture production increased from 280.70 million tonnes in FY 2013-14 to 367.72 million tonnes in 2024-25.
* India is now the world's largest producer of onions and the second-largest producer of vegetables, fruits, and potatoes.
* **Rural Infrastructure and Development:**
* More than 99.6 percent of eligible habitations have been connected with all-weather roads under PMGSY.
* Under PMGSY-IV, road projects covering more than 10,000 kilometres have been approved.
* 3.70 crore pucca houses have been constructed in rural areas over the past 11 years under the Housing for All mission.
* Drone surveys have been completed in 3.28 lakh villages, and 2.76 crore property cards have been issued under the SVAMITVA scheme.
* Digitisation of 99.8 percent of land records in rural areas has been completed.
* More than 10 crore rural women are now connected to over 90 lakh Self-Help Groups under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Farmers**
* **Impact**: Benefited from increased agricultural growth and production, leading to better incomes and livelihoods. The government's commitment to farmer welfare is evident.
* **Action Required**: Continue adopting modern agricultural practices and leveraging government schemes to further enhance productivity and income.
**Stakeholder: Rural Communities**
* **Impact**: Improved infrastructure, including roads, housing, digital connectivity, and access to essential services, has enhanced the quality of life.
* **Action Required**: Utilize the improved infrastructure and connectivity for economic and social development, promoting sustainable growth.
**Stakeholder: Government (Ministry of Rural Development)**
* **Impact**: Success in achieving sustained agricultural growth and rural development goals under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
* **Action Required**: Continue implementing and strengthening policies and schemes to promote inclusive growth, farmer welfare, and sustainable rural development.
**Stakeholder: Women in Rural Areas**
* **Impact**: Economic empowerment through connection to Self-Help Groups and increased opportunities.
* **Action Required**: Leverage SHGs for financial independence, entrepreneurship, and access to resources for further economic development.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Rural Development: The central government ministry responsible for rural development and agriculture initiatives discussed in the article.
Economic Survey: The annual report on the state of the Indian economy, used as a basis for the minister's comments on agricultural progress.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY): A government scheme aimed at providing all-weather road connectivity to eligible habitations in rural areas.
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin: A government scheme focused on providing affordable housing in rural areas.
SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas): A scheme to survey and map land in rural areas using drones, facilitating property ownership and land records management.
Ministry of Rural Development
“Economic Survey documents the strength of
Indian agriculture and rural India”: Shri Shivraj
Singh Chouhan
Agriculture sector records unprecedented growth rate of 4.4
percent over five years
Horticulture output reaches 367.72 million tonnes in 2024–25
“Historic expansion of infrastructure in rural India”: Shri
Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Posted On: 02 FEB 2026 3:24PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh
Chouhan on Monday reacted to the Economic Survey and said that the survey’s data clearly demonstrates
that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the country has made unprecedented
progress on both, the agriculture and rural development, fronts.
Sustained and stable growth in agriculture
Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that over the past five years, the agriculture and allied sectors have
recorded an average annual growth rate of 4.4 percent at constant prices, which is higher than the global
average. During the decade from financial year 2016 to 2025, the agricultural sector posted a decadal
growth rate of 4.45 percent, the highest compared to previous decades.
He added that even in the second quarter of financial year 2025–26, the agriculture sector registered a
growth rate of 3.5 percent, reflecting its strength and resilience.The Union Minister said that in the financial year 2024–25, the country’s foodgrain production reached a
record level of 357.73 million tonnes. This increase was primarily driven by improved output of rice,
wheat, maize and coarse cereals, including ‘Shree Anna’ (millets). Today, India is not only self-reliant in
foodgrain production but is also playing a leading role globally in several crops.
Horticulture emerges as a bright spot in agricultural growth
Shri Chouhan said that with nearly a 33 percent share in agricultural gross value added (GVA), the
horticulture sector has emerged as the brightest spot in Indian agriculture. Horticulture production
increased from 280.70 million tonnes in the financial year 2013–14 to 367.72 million tonnes in 2024–25.
During this period, fruit production stood at 114.51 million tonnes, vegetable production at 219.67 million
tonnes, and other horticultural crops at 33.54 million tonnes.
The Union Agriculture Minister said that India has now become the world’s largest producer of onions,
contributing nearly 25 percent to global onion production. At the same time, India is the world’s second-
largest producer of vegetables, fruits and potatoes, with a global share of around 12–13 percent in each of
these categories.
Historic expansion of infrastructure in rural India
Highlighting achievements in rural development, Shri Chouhan said that there has been remarkable
progress in rural infrastructure, including roads, housing, drinking water and digital connectivity. Under
the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), more than 99.6 percent of eligible habitations have
now been connected with all-weather roads.He said that under various phases of PMGSY, construction of lakhs of kilometres of roads and thousands
of bridges has been completed. Under PMGSY-IV, road projects covering more than 10,000 kilometres
have been approved, which will ensure access to essential services for nearly 3,270 unconnected
habitations across Jammu and Kashmir, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Sikkim and Himachal
Pradesh.
Transformation in housing, digital empowerment and livelihoods
Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that under the mission of ‘Housing for All’, 3.70 crore
pucca houses have been constructed in rural areas over the past 11 years. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas
Yojana–Gramin, a target of 4.14 crore houses has been set, most of which have already been sanctioned.
Referring to digital and technological initiatives, Shri Chouhan said that under the SVAMITVA (Survey of
Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) scheme, drone surveys have been
completed in 3.28 lakh villages and 2.76 crore property cards have been issued. Under the Digital India
Land Records Modernisation Programme, digitisation of 99.8 percent of land records in rural areas has
been completed.
Under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission, more than 10 crore rural women are now connected to
over 90 lakh Self-Help Groups. The number of ‘Lakhpati Didis’ has crossed 2.5 crore, marking a major
achievement in the economic empowerment of rural women.
Shri Chouhan said that the Economic Survey reflects how consistent policy focus, institutional reforms
and targeted investments have strengthened agriculture and transformed rural India. He added that these
outcomes underline the government’s commitment to inclusive growth, farmer welfare and sustainable
rural development, ensuring that villages play a central role in India’s journey towards becoming a
developed nation.
*****
RC/PU/MK
(Release ID: 2222100) Visitor Counter : 252
Read this release in: Urdu , Gujarati