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Agroecological transformation processes in India’s agricultural and food systems are being promoted and improved countrywide.

Agriculture and food systems are central to India’s economy, providing livelihoods for more than 50 per cent of the population. The Green Revolution is transforming the country from a food-scarce to a food-secure nation. However, while ensuring food supply, it negatively impacts diversification in production and diets. The environmental and social problems associated with industrial agriculture are becoming increasingly evident: 71 per cent of India’s cultivated land is overused, affecting its ability to sustain farming. Land holdings have reduced in average size from 2.28 hectares (ha) in 1970-71 to 1.08 ha in 2015-16. Climate change further compounds these challenges.

The Government of India increasingly promotes agroecological approaches, as they show promise in increasing farm incomes, re-cultivating degraded land, improving nutrition security through diversification and reducing adverse environmental impacts. India has a growing number of climate-friendly business models combining traditional circular farming practices with innovative technological and management approaches. Several state initiatives have been launched to shift to organic and natural farming.

The project aims to:

• enhance knowledge exchange and application of agroecological practices;
• support the implementation of agroecological programmes focusing on market development, crop, and income diversification in selected states;
• firmly establish agroecological principles and approaches in national programmes and encourage widespread dialogue;
• demonstrate landscape-based planning, implementation and monitoring of agroecological approaches;
• encourage more dialogue and cooperation on agroecology between India and Germany.