Kisan Diwas 2025: Driving Farm Productivity Through Digital Adoption

As India marks NationalFarmers Day (Kisan Diwas) on December 23, 2025, the agricultural sector iswitnessing a fundamental transformation. Technology is emerging as a centraldriver of productivity, resilience, and value creation, reshaping a sector thatwas once largely input-driven into one increasingly guided by data, digitalplatforms, and precision tools.India’s Agri-tech ecosystem has grown rapidly over the pastdecade and is currently estimated at USD 800–900 million. It is projected to expand at 9–13 percent CAGR through the early 2030s,driven by deeper smartphone penetration, expanding rural internet access, andthe growing adoption of AI-led advisory and analytics services. Withagriculture contributing close to 20 percent of India’s GDP, even marginalefficiency improvements enabled by digital tools translate into significanteconomic value across the farm-to-fork value chain.Atthe production level, advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence,machine learning, IoT sensors, satellite mapping, and drones are being deployedfor soil health analysis, crop monitoring, irrigation planning, and pestmanagement

. These tools help farmers make more timely and precise decisions,improving yields while reducing input waste and environmental stress."AI canbe a growth engine for India’s farmers—raising productivity, cutting inputwaste, and strengthening income resilience while supporting national foodsecurity. As we mark Kisan Diwas, it is vital that these benefits reachsmallholders, who make up over 80% of India’s farmers yet face low yields,post-harvest losses, and mounting climate risk. Evidence from currentinitiatives shows that AI can enable 20–30% higher yields, up to 80% watersavings, and lower costs through precision advisory, early pest and diseasedetection, and smarter post-harvest management. To unlock this at scale, Indiamust invest in a robust agri-data foundation, localized AI models for differentagro-climatic zones, and last-mile delivery in local languages. Real impactwill only come from concerted public–private–philanthropic partnerships thatco-create fit-for-context solutions that embed AI into schemes and supportvillage-level adoption so every kisan can benefit.", said SidharthMadaan, Managing Director & Partner, Boston Consulting Group.Withinthis evolving ecosystem, corporates dependent on agricultural sourcing areincreasingly shifting from transactional relationships to long-term farmerpartnerships, embedding technology and sustainability into on-ground engagementmodels.Devyani Rana, Vice President – Public Affairs,Communications and Sustainability, Coca-Cola India & South West Asia, said, “At Coca-Cola India,we view farmers as long-term partners in building resilient agriculturalecosystems.

Through initiatives supported by The Coca-Cola Foundation andAnandana - The Coca-Cola India Foundation, we work closely with farmingcommunities to strengthen sustainable horticulture practices, improveproductivity, and enhance resource efficiency, while safeguarding essential naturalresources such as soil and water. Over the years, these efforts have supportedfruit farmers across multiple states with modern, climate-responsive practicesthat help strengthen livelihoods and build long-term resilience. As we markKisan Diwas, we reaffirm our commitment to enabling inclusive agriculturalprogress and supporting farmers as they navigate the evolving challenges of achanging climate and market environment.Beyond the farm gate, technology istransforming post-harvest management, warehousing, and logistics.Technology-enabled solutions now handle billions of dollars’ worth ofagricultural commodities, reducing spoilage and improving supply-chainefficiency. This is particularly critical in horticulture, where post-harvestlosses have historically eroded farmer’s incomes.Price realization remains one of the most persistent challengesin Indian agriculture, with farmers often receiving as little as 20 percent ofthe final consumer price for fruits and about 19 percent for vegetables. Digitalmandi platforms, demand forecasting tools, IT-led price discovery mechanisms,and data-linked credit and insurance products are today helping bridge this gapby reducing intermediary inefficiencies and improving transparency. Thesesystems also enable farmer producer organizations, self-help groups, and Agri-startupsto scale farmer-centric services more effectively.NusratPathan, Head CSR, HDFC Bank said, “Farmersplay a vital role in sustaining rural economies, and supportingclimate-resilient livelihoods is a key focus of HDFC Bank Parivartan.

Throughour CSR initiatives, we work to strengthen agricultural practices and incomeopportunities across rural India, with interventions currently spanning 507villages. Under the Holistic Rural Development Programme, we are supportingfarmers in responding to climate-related challenges through sustainable,nature-based approaches.One suchinitiative is in the districts of Sathya Sai and Annamayya in Andhra Pradesh,where water stress is a persistent concern, our efforts focus on building anenabling ecosystem for nearly 6,000 marginal farmers. This includesfacilitating a gradual transition to natural farming, strengthening local seedsystems and enabling access to markets. Like this initiative, we run similarprojects to support improved income stability for marginal farmers across thecountry. Through these programmes, we seek to contribute to farming systemsthat are more secure, sustainable and better equipped to adapt to changingclimatic conditions.”Mr. Rajeev Ranjan, Managing Director, McDonald's India -North and East,said, “At McD (N&E), farmer centricity is not an initiative; it is thefoundation of our supply chain and sourcing strategy. For over 25 years, wehave partnered with thousands of Indian farmers to build a resilient, localfarm-to-fork ecosystem rooted in trust, transparency, and long-term valuecreation. Our work focuses on measurable outcomes, higher on-farm productivity,reduced post-harvest losses, improved quality consistency, and more predictablefarmer incomes. We continuously look for opportunities to further localize oursupply chain, bringing sourcing closer to farms, strengthening regionalecosystems, and reducing dependencies on sourcing from outside India. We workclosely with our supply chain partners and jointly keep looking foropportunities of investing in agronomic support, structured engagement, andpost-harvest and cold-chain infrastructure. We help strengthen rural supplychains while meeting the highest standards of food safety and reliability forour customers. This approach delivers impact at scale, supporting livelihoods,improving supply efficiency, and contributing to a stronger, more inclusivefood economy. This Kisan Diwas, we reaffirm our belief that when our farmersbrotheren grow with confidence, capability, and sustainability at the core,they become enduring drivers of our country’s economic progress.”Policy support is also aligningclosely with the technological push. Initiatives such as the Namo Drone Didischeme, with an outlay of ₹1,261 crore, aim to equip nearly 15,000 women-ledself-help groups with agri-drones, training, and maintenance support, enablingprecision spraying services while creating new rural livelihood opportunities.As Kisan Diwas 2025 is observed,farmers are increasingly being repositioned as informed decision-makerssupported by digital intelligence. With sustained collaboration betweengovernment, industry, and technology providers, tech-enabled agriculture is poisedto unlock higher incomes, strengthen food security, and build long-termresilience across India’s agrarian economy.