India's agriculture sector is crucial for the country’s food security. It also supports the livelihoods of over 40% of the population and strongly influences the growth of consumer markets. An abundant monsoon this year, and favourable policies on minimum support prices (MSPs) and import duties will likely ease rural distress in the short term. However, the sector faces major long-term challenges, such as fragmented farm holdings, sub-optimal cropping patterns, under-investment in machinery and scientific methods and (especially in certain regions) a heavy reliance on rainfall. It is evident what needs to be done to reform the sector, but the political will to implement difficult choices is often missing. At a recent all-Forum online session, the first in our ‘Sector Spotlight’ series, Harish Damodaran, National Rural Affairs and Agriculture Editor at The Indian Express, offered a forward-looking view on India’s agriculture landscape. This podcast summarises these discussions.

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