Dairy, Fisheries, Livestock to Drive Rural Economy's Growth: Union Minister Lalan Singh at the 3rd National Sustainable Agriculture Summit & Awards

Organised by Sustainability Matters, IndiAgri and Alliance for Change, Transformation & Innovation (ACTION), the Summit emerged as a national platform for dialogue on the future of Indian agriculture, focusing on sustainability, climate resilience, innovation, rural entrepreneurship, food security, natural resource management and farmer prosperity.

In his keynote address, Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj emphasised that the goals of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047 can only be achieved through a strong rural economy and empowered farmers. He highlighted the government's efforts to strengthen agriculture and allied sectors through scientific interventions, infrastructure development, value-chain enhancement, technology adoption and sustainable rural enterprises.

"For India to emerge as a developed nation by 2047, our farmers must be empowered and our rural economy must become stronger and more self-reliant. Agriculture and allied sectors will continue to play a central role in driving inclusive growth and prosperity," the Minister said.

The Summit brought together a distinguished gathering of leaders and stakeholders including Sanjay Kumar Jha, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha); Dr Meenesh C. Shah, Chairman, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB); Manoj Kumar Dubey, Chairman & Managing Director, Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC); Dr Rajendra Prasad, General Manager, SIDBI; Gajendra Kumar, Joint General Manager (Marketing), KRIBHCO; senior policymakers, researchers, industry leaders and representatives of farmer organisations and cooperatives.

Addressing the Summit, Sanjay Kumar Jha, MP (Rajya Sabha) said, "The future of Indian agriculture lies in creating integrated and diversified rural economies. Agriculture, horticulture, dairy, fisheries, water conservation and rural enterprises must work together to generate sustainable livelihoods and strengthen rural India. The vision of Krishi Samridhi 2047 requires collaborative action from governments, institutions, industry and farmers alike."

Dr Meenesh C. Shah, Chairman, NDDB said, "India's agricultural future depends on creating strong and sustainable rural ecosystems where productivity, value addition, institutions and innovation work together. Cooperatives have demonstrated the power of collective action, and partnerships across sectors will be critical in building a resilient and globally competitive agricultural economy."

"As India advances towards Viksit Bharat 2047, investments in infrastructure, connectivity, logistics and financing will play a critical role in transforming rural economies. Sustainable agricultural growth requires long-term institutional support, and platforms such as this Summit help bring together diverse stakeholders committed to that objective," opined Manoj Kumar Dubey, CMD, IRFC.

Dr Rajendra Prasad, General Manager, SIDBI, said, "Innovation, entrepreneurship and access to finance are vital pillars of a self-reliant agricultural ecosystem. Strengthening agri-enterprises, startups, farmer producer organisations and rural businesses will not only create employment but also unlock new opportunities for value creation and inclusive growth across rural India."

Gajendra Kumar, Jt GM (Marketing), KRIBHCO, highlighted the need to make agriculture more attractive and future-ready for younger generations. He said, "One of the biggest challenges before Indian agriculture today is that many young people are moving away from farming. Rural India has been transformed by the communication revolution, and agriculture must evolve accordingly. At the same time, challenges such as climate change and excessive use of fertilisers require collective solutions driven by innovation, sustainability and responsible resource management."

Speaking on the occasion, Dr K.C. Ravi, Director General, Sustainable Agriculture Summit & Awards, said, "Krishi Samridhi 2047 is not merely a vision for agricultural growth; it is a roadmap for building resilience across the entire rural ecosystem. Sustainability, technology, water security, market access and farmer-centric policies must work together to create long-term prosperity and strengthen India's food and economic security."

"The journey towards Krishi Samridhi 2047 requires policy continuity, institutional innovation and stronger convergence between government, industry, academia and farming communities. Agriculture today is no longer confined to food production alone; it is intrinsically linked to livelihoods, sustainability, climate resilience, water security and rural economic growth. Building a self-reliant agricultural ecosystem will require integrated solutions that are scalable, inclusive and future-ready." said Dr Jayadev Sarangi, IAS (Retd.), Former Secretary, Government of Delhi and Goa.

Dr Navneet Anand, Executive Director, Sustainability Matters, said, "The future of Indian agriculture will be defined by partnerships. Governments, financial institutions, industry, academia, startups and farmers must collaborate to build an ecosystem that is productive, sustainable, climate-resilient and economically rewarding. This Summit seeks to catalyse those partnerships and contribute meaningfully to India's journey towards Krishi Samridhi 2047."

The Summit featured high-level discussions on climate-smart agriculture, digital innovation, sustainable farming systems, water stewardship, agricultural financing, cooperative development, rural entrepreneurship, natural farming, technology adoption and emerging opportunities across the agricultural value chain.

A major highlight of the event was the National Sustainable Agriculture Awards 2026, which recognised exemplary contributions by farmers, cooperatives, agribusinesses, startups, institutions, government agencies and development organisations from across the country for advancing sustainability, innovation and inclusive growth in agriculture and allied sectors.

The Summit was supported by IRFC, SIDBI, COMFED, OMFED, HURL, KRIBHCO and SIRA Seeds, reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening India's agricultural ecosystem and advancing the vision of a resilient, self-reliant and prosperous rural economy.