Title: “From Plow to Precarity: Navigating India’s Agricultural Distress in 2025”

 Title: “From Plow to Precarity: Navigating India’s Agricultural Distress in 2025”

 

Introduction

India’s agricultural sector has long been both its backbone and its Achilles’ heel. While agriculture supports the livelihoods of a substantial portion of India’s population and contributes to food security, persistent systemic challenges have strained the sector, especially as pressures such as climate change, market volatility, and structural inequities intensify. By 2025, many farmers continue to struggle with low incomes, fragile access to technology and finance, and ever-worsening weather extremes.

This article examines the current state of agricultural distress in India, delves into empirical and statistical evidence of the challenges, and then outlines a multi-pronged roadmap of solutions—ranging from climate-resilient crops to infrastructure, policy reforms, and institutional support. The goal is to argue that, with concerted will and smart design, India can transform these precarious conditions into pathways for sustainable agricultural growth.

 

Current Landscape: How Serious Is the Distress?

Farming’s Role and Its Contradictions

• Around 21.7 % of India’s working population is still engaged in agriculture, despite declining shares over decades.
• At the same time, agriculture’s share of GDP has shrunk to about 15 % in FY 2023, reflecting both structural transformation and stagnating productivity.
• The contradiction is stark: more than one-fifth of India’s workers are involved in a sector contributing a fraction of national output, often under precarious conditions.

Indicators of Distress

Farmer Suicides and Debt

• The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reported 11,290 suicides among those identified as part of the farming sector in 2022 (5,207 farmers + 6,083 agricultural labourers)—about 6.6 % of total suicides in India. Over the period 1995–2014, 296,438 farmers died by suicide; in the nine years from 2014 to 2022, that figure was 100,474.
• Many analyses attribute a large share of suicides to indebtedness, crop failure, and lack of alternative income sources.
• A 42 % spike in suicides was observed from 2014 to 2015 alone, with debt and farm-related issues identified in 60 % of cases.
• Credit Stress and NPAs

• Agricultural loans increasingly contribute to non-performing assets (NPAs) in banks. In 2022, farm sector NPAs constituted 17.4 % of the banking sector’s total NPAs, up from 15.07 % previously.
• This underscores the risk banks face from credit extended to farmers, particularly small and marginal farmers who may not have resilient incomes.

Yield Stagnation & Production Gains

• India’s food grain production did reach 332 million tonnes in 2023-24, a 27 % increase over nine years. Yet despite this macro success, many farmers at the micro level still face shrinking margins, rising input costs, and price volatility. In addition, the adoption of climate-resilient agriculture practices remains low. For example, among sample farmers, only 18 % used climate-resilient variety selection (CRVS); other practices like direct seeded rice (5.5 %), laser land leveling (5 %), or zero tillage (2.5 %) had even lower adoption.
• The Climate Imperative

• It is estimated that yields of key crops like rice, wheat, coarse grains, and oilseeds could decline by ~17 % by 2050 due to climate stress unless adaptation is prioritized.
• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) notes that 151 districts (~20 % of India’s districts) are already vulnerable to climate impact, and that climate change may reduce yields by ~9 % in the medium term.
• Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is gaining attention as a framework to simultaneously raise productivity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthen resilience.

Dissecting the Causes

Agricultural distress is not a single-factor phenomenon. Instead, it is a complex convergence of structural, environmental, institutional, and market-related issues.

1. Small, Fragmented Land Holdings

• Most Indian farmers are small or marginal, with less than 2 hectares of land. Fragmentation reduces economies of scale and discourages investment in mechanization or modern methods. Fragmentation also makes it more difficult to adopt newer technologies, irrigation, or efficient cropping systems.

2. Input Costs Rising, Output Prices Volatile

• Costs of fertilizer, seeds, electricity, fuel, and labor have steadily risen, squeezing farmers' net margins. Market prices for crops often fluctuate dramatically, sometimes leaving farmers with losses. Researchers now model MSP (Minimum Support Price) as an implicit put option to shield producers from volatility
• Supply chain inefficiencies and middlemen often capture a disproportionate share of value.

3. Limited Access to Credit, Insurance, and Risk Mitigation

• Small farmers often depend on informal credit sources (moneylenders) at high interest rates. Crop insurance schemes are under-utilized due to awareness gaps, high premiums, claim delays, and structural flaws. Because farmers often operate with minimal surplus, any adverse shock can push them into debt traps.

4. Weak Irrigation & Infrastructure

• Only about 35 % of cultivated land is reliably irrigated; the rest depends entirely on monsoon rains. Inadequate rural roads, cold storages, and market linkages fail to support efficient transport, preservation, and marketing of produce.

5. Low Technological Penetration & Knowledge Gaps

• The rate of adoption of climate-smart practices remains low—as noted, many promising practices are used by only a small minority. Access to information, ICT services, and extension support is uneven. A study in Haryana found that the ICT ecosystem (internet connectivity, extension apps, information flow) is critical in improving farmers’ adaptation capacity.
• Many farmers cannot afford or operate advanced machinery or high-quality inputs.

6. Climate Extremes & Unpredictability

• Droughts, floods, unseasonal rains, and heat spells have become more frequent and intense, undermining yields and increasing losses.
• Small farmers lack buffer capacity to absorb these shocks.

7. Policy & Implementation Gaps

• While the government has introduced many welfare and support schemes (subsidies, MSP, insurance, etc.), implementation is patchy, corruption-prone, and often benefits larger or more connected farmers.
• Many policies are rigid (e.g. procurement only for certain crops or regions) and fail to adapt dynamically to local conditions.
• Weak coordination between central, state, and local governments adds complexity in execution.

Key Agricultural & Distress Indicators — Latest Available / Emerging (2024 / 2025)

Indicator	Latest Value / Estimate	Year / Range	Notes & Source	Implication
Agriculture & Allied GVA (Gross Value Added, current prices)	₹4,878,000 crore (₹ 4.878 lakh crore)	2023–24	GVA of agriculture & allied has grown ~225 % from ₹1,502,000 crore in 2011–12 to 2023–24 Press Information Bureau	Shows strong nominal growth, though inflation confounds real gains
Gross Value of Output (GVO) — constant price (2011–12 base)	₹2,949,000 crore	2023–24	Increased ~54.6 % since 2011–12 Press Information Bureau	Reflects real expansion, though less dramatic than nominal
Share of crop sector in GVO (constant price)	54.1 %	2023–24	Crop sector remains dominant in agriculture/allied mix Press Information Bureau	Indicates cropping remains central to agricultural output
Area sown — Kharif (All-India, progressive report)	~435.68 lakh hectares (Kharif as of late 2025)	2025 (progressive)	Based on “Progressive Crop Area Sown” report as of 26 Sept 2025 upag.gov.in	Indicates scale of Kharif cropping; useful baseline
Horticulture area & production	(2nd advance estimates) for 2024–25	2024–25	As per horticulture estimates portal Agri Welfare	Reflects diversification / higher value cropping trends
Fertilizer consumption (N + P + K nutrients)	Various state-wise; e.g. Punjab: 247.6 kg/ha (total nutrients)	2023–24 (published in “Agriculture Database 2025”) Scribd	Shows high input intensity in some states
Farmer suicides in Maharashtra — Jan–Mar 2025	767 cases	Jan–Mar 2025	Maharashtra state government reported 767 suicides in Q1 2025 Down To Earth+1	Alarming rate — about 1 suicide every 3 hours in that period
Total India farmer suicides (latest official data)	11,290 persons	2022	From NCRB’s “Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India” (2022) Wikipedia+1	Most recent full-year national number available
Irrigated area / irrigation coverage	~55.8 % of gross cropped area	(Latest published)	From a study “Farmers’ Suicide in India: Causes and Policy Interventions” University of Mumbai	Many farmers still depend on rainfall for nearly half of their land
Record agricultural exports	USD 51.9 billion	2025 (export value)	Reported in media “India agricultural exports 2025 surge…” All About Agriculture	Strengthening global demand, but also expose farmers to trade risks
Projected record wheat & rice production	Wheat ~117.5 million tonnes, Rice ~149 million tonnes	2024–25 (ending June 2025)	Reuters report projecting record harvests Reuters	If realized, may ease food security and buffer stocks
Progress in area under major summer / Kharif crops	Paddy: +12.4 %, area ~17.67 million ha; pulses up ~2.3 %	2025 (mid-season data)	From Reuters news on summer crop sowing trends Reuters	Indicates shifting planting dynamics and responsive cropping decisions

 

Observations & Caveats

1.      Lag in official distress data: While 2025 data for production, area, exports, etc. are emerging, suicide / distress / debt / NPA data are still officially reported only up to 2022 or possibly 2023. Global Agriculture+2Ministry of Stats & Program Implementation+2

2.      Projection vs realized: Some figures (e.g. wheat/rice production for 2024–25) are projections, not yet confirmed harvest outcomes. Reuters

3.      Regional variation: The distress intensity (suicides, yield shortfalls) is not uniform; states like Maharashtra (especially Vidarbha) continue to show severe crisis indicators in recent months. Down To Earth+2Counterview+2

4.      Input intensification: High fertilizer use in states like Punjab underscores the input-intensive model, which may not be sustainable for marginal farmers. Scribd

5.      Irrigation gap persists: Even with improvements, nearly 44 – 45 % of cropped area is still dependent on rainfall or partial irrigation. University of Mumbai

 

1) National — 2025 → 2030 projection table (scenario ranges)

Base / anchor year used: 2023–24 or latest published 2024–25 estimates where explicitly noted. Key sources: MOSPI / PIB statistical report (GVA & GVO), Govt. press notes on exports, and irrigation coverage updates.

How to read this table: each indicator has a Base (2024/25) value (observed / official), then three scenario projections for 2026, 2028, 2030:

·         Low: conservative / adverse (slow growth, climate shocks, weaker policy delivery)

·         Baseline: continuation of recent trends + moderate policy progress

·         Optimistic: stronger policy action, improved irrigation & adoption of tech

Assumptions (summarized)
• Production/GVO/GVA growth: baseline ≈ 1.5–2.5% p.a. real; optimistic ≈ 3–4% p.a.; low ≈ 0–1% p.a.
• Irrigation expansion (net irrigated area share): baseline +0.5–1.0 pp/year; optimistic +1.0–1.5 pp/year.
• Exports (value): baseline +3–5% p.a.; optimistic +6–8% p.a. (in USD terms, assuming stable global demand).
• Farmer suicide incidence: baseline stable / small decline if safety nets improve; low = increase under adverse shocks; optimistic = decline with robust welfare and credit reforms.
• All monetary values in current nominal INR / USD unless noted.

Indicator	Base (2024/25 or latest)	2026 (Low / Baseline / Opt.)	2028 (Low / Baseline / Opt.)	2030 (Low / Baseline / Opt.)
Agriculture & Allied GVA (current prices)	₹4,878,000 crore (2023–24 official). Press Information Bureau	₹4.88–₹5.0L cr · ₹5.0–₹5.3L cr · ₹5.2–₹5.6L cr	₹4.9–₹5.2L cr · ₹5.1–₹5.8L cr · ₹5.6–₹6.2L cr	₹4.9–₹5.4L cr · ₹5.3–₹6.3L cr · ₹6.0–₹7.0L cr
Gross Value of Output (GVO) — constant prices (2011–12 base)	₹2,949,000 crore (2023–24). Press Information Bureau	-0.5%→+0.5% / +1.5% / +3% pa cumulative → roughly ₹2.94–₹2.98L cr · ₹2.99–₹3.05L cr · ₹3.03–₹3.20L cr	₹2.93–₹3.05L cr · ₹3.04–₹3.16L cr · ₹3.12–₹3.45L cr	₹2.9–₹3.1L cr · ₹3.10–₹3.3L cr · ₹3.2–₹3.8L cr
Irrigated area (% of gross cropped area)	~55% (FY21–FY24 upward trend; govt cites ~55% coverage). Press Information Bureau+1	54–55% / 55.5–56.5% / 56.5–58%	54–56% / 56–58.5% / 58–61%	53.5–57% / 57–60% / 59–64%
Agricultural exports (USD value)	US$51.9 bn (2024–25 exports reported). Press Information Bureau	US$49–51bn / US$53–55bn / US$55–58bn	US$47–52bn / US$55–60bn / US$60–68bn	US$45–52bn / US$57–66bn / US$66–80bn
Farmer suicides (annual national count)	Last full official national dataset available to many analysts: 2022–2023 figures (≈11k reported for 2022 — combined farmer + agri labour counts; latest NCRB releases lag). Down To Earth+1	+5–15% / -0–5% / -10–25% (relative to base)	+10–30% / -5–15% / -20–40%	+15–40% / -10–25% / -30–60%
Input intensity — fertilizer use (kg/ha) (sample high-use state)	Example: Punjab >240 kg/ha (nutrients), 2023–24 datasets. Agri Welfare	Stable / small decline if subsidy rationalization & balanced fert use / moderate decline with policy push	Stable / small decline / moderate decline	Stable / decline / moderate decline
Post-harvest loss (%) — national average (est.)	~10–13% (widely cited range for perishables & cereals combined)	10–14% / 9–12% / 7–10%	10–15% / 8–11% / 6–9%	11–16% / 7–10% / 5–8%

Notes on projections:
• Monetary ranges reflect nominal values with conservative/optimistic growth assumptions.
• Suicide projections are expressed as percent change because reliable official annual numbers for 2024–25/2025 sometimes lag or are contested; Maharashtra Q1 2025 illustrates regional spikes. Down To Earth
• Exports are given in USD and depend on global commodity prices and trade policy; 2024–25 actual = US$51.9 bn. Press Information Bureau

 

2) State-wise comparative table (selected states) — latest observed (2024–early-2025 indicators)

States selected: Maharashtra (high distress signals 2025), Punjab (high input intensity & long-term distress), Uttar Pradesh (large cropped area & procurement), Madhya Pradesh (user interest / central India), Karnataka (mixed performance across horticulture & cereals). Key data points pulled from state reports / national press & govt summaries.

State	Recent suicide indicator (notified / reported)	Irrigation / Water (approx %)	Major cropping pattern / notes	Exports / value-add notes / procurement presence
Maharashtra	767 farmer suicides reported Jan–Mar 2025 (state govt figure); Vidarbha worst impacted — severe distress hotspot. Down To Earth+1	Irrigation coverage lower than national avg in many districts; heartland rain-fed areas (Vidarbha). (State-level irrigation varies widely) Directorate of Economics and Statistics	Cotton, soybean, pulses, sugarcane in parts — high vulnerability to price & rainfall swings.	Procurement for sugarcane large (state sugar mills); limited central procurement for many crops; exports agri from state largely in processed items (spotty).
Punjab	Long-term high farmer distress historically; NCRB shows Punjab among higher numbers regionally (historical context). Wikipedia	Very high input / irrigation intensity (example fertilizer use ~247.6 kg/ha in some datasets). Agri Welfare	Rice–wheat dominated; high groundwater stress; overuse of fertilizer; yields high but sustainability concerns.	Major MSP procurement for wheat & paddy; major contributor to foodgrain central buffer stocks.
Uttar Pradesh (UP)	Large absolute counts of agrarian distress historically due to sheer population; NCRB and state reports show high numbers in past years (absolute counts scale with population). Wikipedia	Mixed — many zones irrigated but large rainfed tracts; irrigation share rising with schemes. Directorate of Economics and Statistics	Paddy, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, vegetables — very diverse cropping.	Large MSP procurement for wheat & rice; strong domestic market linkages; growing horticulture in some districts.
Madhya Pradesh (MP)	Moderate-to-high distress pockets historically (central India); state-level figures vary year to year. Directorate of Economics and Statistics	Variable — many semi-arid areas, but some irrigation and micro-irrigation adoption programs exist. Directorate of Economics and Statistics	Soybean, pulses, wheat, maize — important central Indian hub for oilseeds and pulses.	Procurement relatively smaller than Punjab/UP but MP is key in pulses/oilseed markets and processing.
Karnataka	Mixed: certain districts show farmer suicides historically; state-level numbers fluctuate. Wikipedia	South Indian states often have higher horticulture & irrigated pockets; Karnataka irrigation share variable by district. Directorate of Economics and Statistics	Strong horticulture (fruits, vegetables), coffee, sugarcane in some zones; diversification higher than some northern states.	Horticultural exports and value-add (processed mango, banana, spices) significant; state has strong value-chain clusters.

Caveats & reading guidance (state table):
• State suicide numbers can be reported differently (eligible cases for compensation vs. raw counts); Maharashtra’s Q1 2025 number (767) is a sharp, recent example of an acute spike and should be interpreted alongside historical trends.
• Irrigation percentages vary by data source and year — national aggregates place irrigated share near ~55% (FY21–FY24 upward movement). Use district-level data for precise local planning.

 

Statistical Snapshot & Comparative Table

Below is a synthesized table summarizing key metrics, trends, and comparisons that highlight the severity of distress and areas needing intervention.

Indicator	Value / Trend	Implication
Share of workforce in agriculture	~21.7 %	Large reliance on agriculture despite declining profitability
Agriculture’s share in GDP	~15 % (2023)	Structural shift out of farming, low productivity per worker
Farmer suicides (2022)	11,290 (farmers + agri labourers)	Signifier of deep distress
Cumulative suicides (1995–2014)	296,438	Long-term crisis, not just recent phenomenon
Adoption rate of CRVS (climate-resilient variety)	~18 % (in sample)	Most farmers are not using climate-adaptive seeds
Farm sector NPAs (2022)	17.4 % of total NPAs	Significant burden on banking and credit markets
Projected yield loss from climate change	Up to 17 % decline in key crops by 2050	Climate is a looming structural threat
Proportion of districts vulnerable to climate	~20 % (151 districts)	Many areas already under stress

This table underscores the scale and interlocking nature of distress: social (suicides, debt), institutional (credit, insurance), environmental (climate), and technological (low adoption).

 

A Roadmap for Revival: Strategies & Solutions

To turn the tide and build a more resilient, equitable agricultural future, a combination of interventions is needed. Below, I outline a multi-layered approach.

1. Innovation & Research for Climate-Resilient Crops

• Ramp up public and private investment in R&D to develop crop varieties tolerant to drought, heat, salinity, pests, and erratic rainfall.
• Strengthen molecular breeding, marker-assisted selection, genomic tools, and CRISPR-based approaches to accelerate development of resilient genetics.
• Focus on locally adapted varieties and participatory breeding, involving farmers in selection.
• Ensure seed dissemination systems are robust and accessible, especially to smallholders.
• Promote intercropping, crop rotations, and diversification to build ecological resilience.

2. Scaling Climate-Smart Agriculture Practices

• Promote adoption of climate-smart practices (zero/minimum tillage, drip irrigation, soil moisture conservation, crop diversification).
• Use subsidy incentives, demonstration plots, and extension support to encourage adoption.
• Leverage ICT, mobile apps, and local agro-ecological advisories to guide farmers in practice selection.
• Develop “climate-smart hubs” at district or block level to aggregate resources, tools, and training.

3. Irrigation, Water Management & Infrastructure

• Accelerate expansion and maintenance of irrigation networks (canals, borewells, micro-irrigation).
• Invest in rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge structures, check dams, and watershed development.
• Promote precision irrigation technologies (e.g. drip, sprinkler) especially in water-scarce zones.
• Upgrade rural roads, cold storage, packhouses, and market infrastructure to reduce post-harvest loss.

4. Financial Inclusion, Risk Mitigation & Support Systems

• Reform crop insurance schemes to ensure affordability, transparency, timely claim settlement, and coverage of “non-yield” risks.
• Introduce weather-indexed insurance models and tie them to smaller units (village, block) to reduce moral hazard.
• Offer subsidized credit with safety nets and grace periods during adverse years.
• Consider novel financial instruments (e.g. MSP treated as a put option, as some researchers suggest) to hedge price risk.
• Strengthen microfinance, self-help groups, farmer producer organizations (FPOs), and cooperative credit systems.

5. Fair Procurement, Market Access & Value Chains

• Expand procurement under MSP across more crops, locations, and crops beyond cereals.
• Reform minimum support and assure procurement even in remote or rain-fed areas.
• Strengthen market linkages: e-marketplaces, aggregation, logistics, contract farming with safeguards.
• Promote value addition (processing, packaging) in rural zones to retain a higher share of final value.
• Encourage FPOs/aggregators to reduce middlemen exploitation and improve bargaining power.

6. Institutional Reforms & Governance

• Strengthen coordination between central, state, and panchayat-level institutions for agriculture, water, credit, and rural development.
• Build capacity in extension services; recruit and train more ground-level agricultural officers.
• Introduce performance incentives, monitoring, and accountability for scheme delivery.
• Decentralize planning: allow flexibility in scheme design based on local agro-ecological and social conditions.
• Encourage public–private partnerships in agritech adoption, infrastructure, and service delivery.

7. Social Safety Nets & Alternative Livelihoods

• Provide conditional income supports, like crop disaster relief, for severely hit farmers.
• Promote agricultural diversification into allied sectors (horticulture, livestock, beekeeping, aquaculture, agroforestry).
• Encourage off-farm employment opportunities, rural non-farm industries, and skill training programs.
• Strengthen rural social protection (health, education, insurance) to reduce vulnerability.

8. Empowering Through Information & ICT

• Expand rural internet connectivity and broadband access.
• Develop farmer-friendly platforms that deliver real-time weather, advisory, pricing, pest alerts, and extension content.
• Integrate local language support and audio-visual tools for low-literacy farmers.
• Promote participatory digital platforms (e.g., farmer feedback systems) to improve trust and adoption.
• Strengthen extension–ICT nexus: extension officers act as facilitators for digital adoption.

 

Scenario Modeling & Monitoring

• Use climate-price linkage models (e.g. as proposed in Black-Scholes + EGARCH frameworks) to estimate volatility and design targeted interventions in price risk insurance.
• Deploy crop recommendation systems using machine learning that integrates environmental, economic, and yield data to guide farmers on optimal crops or crop rotations. A recent study showed Random Forest models reaching ~83.6 % accuracy under lag variable approach.
• Monitor adoption and impact via rigorous field trials, randomized controlled trials, and remote sensing data to guide policy course corrections.

 

Challenges & Risks

• Political economy: subsidy and procurement reforms may face resistance from vested interests.
• Financing: scaling all these interventions demands huge and sustained public and private investment.
• Adoption gap: small and marginal farmers may resist switching practices due to risk aversion and lack of capital.
• Institutional bottlenecks: corruption, delayed implementation, coordination failures.
• Climate uncertainty: even adaptive measures may not fully offset extreme weather.
• Equity: ensuring benefits reach marginalized, tenant, tribal, and women farmers.

 

Conclusion

The distress afflicting India’s farmers in 2025 is neither new nor trivial. Yet, it is not inevitable. The statistics—of suicides, debt, low adoption, and climate loss—are urgent calls for systemic change. The country’s agricultural sector, properly rejuvenated, can become a driver of inclusive growth, climate resilience, and food security.

Key to progress is a dual focus:

1. Innovation + Infrastructure — delivering climate-resilient crops, modern practices, irrigation, and connectivity; and
2. Institutional & Policy Reform — restructuring credit, insurance, procurement, market access, extension, and governance.

Success will depend heavily on coordinated action across central, state, and local governments, partnering with private actors, civil society, research institutions, and farmers themselves. With political will and adaptive learning, India can transform the conditions of distress into a new era of sustainable agrarian prosperity.

 

References

• “Unravelling agrarian distress in India: A comprehensive analysis of causes and manifestations,” International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development (2024) “
• India’s Experience with Climate Smart Agriculture,” Asia Foundation / ICAR (2024) “How can India Scale Climate-Resilient Agriculture Practices and Smart Farming,” CEEW (2025) “Sustainable Finance Flows to India’s Agriculture Sector,” Climate Policy Initiative (2025) “Promotion of Climate Resilient Farming,” PRS India report Jat et al. (2025), “Bridging the gap: challenges and adoption of climate-resilient practices”
• “Crop recommendation with machine learning … in Indian context,” arXiv (2025)

o  Predicting and Mitigating Agricultural Price Volatility Using Climate Scenarios and Risk Models,” arXiv (2025)

·         MOSPI / PIB — Statistical Report on Value of Output from Agriculture and Allied Sectors (GVA, GVO figures, 2023–24). Press Information Bureau

·         Press note / Ministry of Agriculture — Agri & allied exports value 2024–25 = US$51.9 bn (PIB release July 29, 2025). Press Information Bureau

·         DowntoEarth / state reporting on Maharashtra — 767 farmer suicides reported Jan–Mar 2025 (state figure; Q1 crisis). Down To Earth+1

·         PIB / Economic Survey / other government briefs on irrigation: coverage rose toward ~55% of gross cropped area (FY16→FY21 trend, reiterated in 2024–25 briefs). Press Information Bureau+1

·         Agricultural Statistics / DES / “Agricultural Statistics at a Glance” — gross cropped area and crop area baselines used for state comparisons. Directorate of Economics and Statistics