Published Online:April 2025
Product Name:The IUP Journal of Management Research
Product Type:Article
Product Code:IJMR040425
DOI:10.71329/IUPJMR/2025.24.2.84-112
Author Name:Sohini Dutta, Sania Sami and S Roychowdhury
Availability:YES
Subject/Domain:Management
Download Format:PDF
Pages:84-112
The study assesses the impact of sustainable agriculture in Indian states over a long period (2001-2021) in selected Indian states and compares the benefits of sustainable agriculture over conventional agriculture with regard to inputs and outcomes. As a measure of sustainable agriculture, organic farming, zero budget natural farming, agroforestry, drip irrigation, crop diversification, etc. have enormous positive impact on farmer income, input costs savings, water use efficiency, soil health and so on. Different states of India have progressed in different sustainability practices depending upon their geographical position, climatic conditions and other socioeconomic factors. Sikkim has shown significant progress in organic farming over the last two decades (2001-2021); Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in zero budget natural farming; Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab in agroforestry; Maharashtra in drip irrigation and water conservation; and Punjab, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh in crop diversification. A longitudinal analysis of the economic and environmental benefits for the states adopting sustainable agriculture has been done over 2001-2021 and the trends have been studied. Notwithstanding the multifarious benefits of sustainable agricultural practices, there are certain challenges to its wide adoption in some states, for which a set of recommendations has been provided.
Agriculture has always been the backbone of India’s economy, employing nearly half of the nation’s workforce and contributing significantly to its GDP. However, the rapid adoption of industrial and conventional farming practices since the Green Revolution in the 1960s has led to growing concerns over environmental degradation, unsustainable use of resources, and declining farm profitability.