Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla outlined India's agricultural vision for achieving developed nation status by 2047 during his address at the inaugural session of the two-day National Conference on "Sustainable Agriculture for Viksit Bharat@2047: Tradition, Technology and Tangible Outcomes." The event was organized in New Delhi by the Akhil Bharatiya Rashtriya Shaikshik Mahasangh (ABRSM) in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on June 13, 2026.
Shri Birla asserted that India's journey toward becoming a developed nation by 2047 fundamentally passes through its farms, fields, and villages, emphasizing that agriculture remains central to ensuring food security, rural prosperity, social harmony, and inclusive growth. He described India's villages as the country's true strength and farmers as the backbone of both the economy and social fabric, noting that agriculture in India transcends being merely an economic sector and represents an integral part of the nation's culture, civilization, and way of life.
The Speaker highlighted the critical need for science-driven, research-backed, and innovation-led agriculture to address challenges posed by climate change and evolving global dynamics. He stressed the importance of integrating time-tested traditional wisdom with modern technology to create a farming ecosystem that is sustainable, profitable, and resilient. Specifically, Birla identified next-generation technologies including drones, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and digital farming as key drivers making agriculture increasingly precise and productive.
Birla emphasized several critical components for agricultural transformation, including water conservation, efficient micro-irrigation, soil health management, high-quality seeds, optimized fertilizer use, and climate-resilient crop varieties. He lauded the continuous efforts of ICAR and the wider scientific community in engineering solutions that reinforce agricultural productivity. The Speaker also highlighted the urgent need to expand agro-based industries, food processing units, and agri-startups to accelerate rural development and uplift farmers' livelihoods.
Looking toward future drivers of growth, Birla identified agricultural universities, research institutions, scientists, and innovators as the primary pillars of India's agricultural future. He observed that youth energy, women's leadership, and grassroots innovation will provide vital momentum to the rural economy. The Speaker called upon teachers, scientists, researchers, policymakers, and farmers to work collectively toward developing self-reliant agricultural models that foster long-term prosperity.
Birla expressed absolute confidence that the conference deliberations would significantly strengthen agricultural education and sustainable farming practices, ultimately transforming farmers' lives and accelerating India's journey toward self-reliance. He described the conference as a reflection of the nation's collective intellectual strength and reiterated that the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 can only be achieved through combined efforts of citizens, academic institutions, social organizations, and policymakers.