State aims to boost crop yields, modernise farming practices, expand exports and integrate tech for rural transformation

JAIPUR (Economy India): Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Monday said that his government is working on a multi-layered strategy to strengthen the state’s agricultural economy, raise farm productivity, and empower farmers to transition towards modern, technology-enabled “smart farming” models. He added that the government’s long-term objective is to position Rajasthan as a leading state in agricultural exports.

Addressing stakeholders from the agriculture, dairy, and rural development sectors, Sharma noted that strengthening farm incomes and supply-chain logistics is at the centre of the state’s policy push.

“Our goal is to build a resilient agriculture ecosystem. Farmers deserve access to modern technologies, improved irrigation, and markets that reward their hard work,” Sharma stated.

Tech-Led ‘Smart Farming’ and Productivity Drive

The chief minister highlighted that Rajasthan’s focus will now shift from traditional subsidy-linked responses towards productivity-oriented measures. These include:

• Introducing sensor-based irrigation and soil health monitoring
• Expanding adoption of drones, satellite mapping, and AI-based crop analytics
• Promoting precision farming in wheat, mustard, and millet belts
• Increasing training support for women farmers and FPOs

Officials stressed that smart farming interventions are meant to increase yield stability during harsh climatic conditions, particularly in arid and semi-arid districts.

Export Push and Global Market Linkages

A major component of the plan is to improve the state’s agricultural export competitiveness. Rajasthan has identified products with high potential, including:

• Millets (shree anna)
• Cumin and spices
• Dairy value-added products
• Vegetables and horticulture produce
• Organic farm clusters

The state is working on export facilitation zones, processing hubs near mandis, and certification support for farmers entering overseas markets.

“Rajasthan can lead India’s agricultural export story. Modern packaging, cold-chain infrastructure and global-quality standards will decide the next wave of growth,” Sharma added.

Infrastructure, Irrigation & Storage Model

The government is also expanding:

• Micro-irrigation projects in water-scarce districts
• Smart warehouses and cold storage capacity
• Village-level collection and procurement centres for reducing transport losses
• Agri-logistics corridors to cut freight costs for produce moving to ports

Officials from the state agriculture department are preparing a policy paper on improving private investment in storage and farm-gate processing.

Direct Benefit to Farmers: Key Pillars of the Roadmap

Priority Area	Government Focus
Technology	Drones, AI farm tools, soil data
Irrigation	Micro-irrigation, solar pumps
Market Access	Export support, mandi reforms
Crop Insurance	Speeding claim settlements
Storage & Logistics	Cold chain + mandi modernisation

Challenges Ahead

Economists caution that reforms will need strong implementation. Key challenges include:

• Water scarcity in western belts
• Need for low-interest capital for small farmers
• Creating market linkages beyond traditional mandis
• Ensuring tech adoption is affordable

However, they agree that the state’s current direction aligns with India’s broader agri-modernisation agenda.

ECONOMY INDIA ANALYSIS

Rajasthan’s emerging agriculture roadmap signals:

• Shift from traditional support to investment-led productivity
• Integration of technology with grassroots farming
• Potential job growth in agri-tech, logistics, processing

If executed effectively, Rajasthan could become a national case study in climate-resilient farming and export-driven agri growth.

(Economy India)