In this episode of BusinessLine’s Agrispective podcast, host Subramani Ra Mancombu explores the evolving landscape of Indian agriculture with M Ramakrishnan, Managing Director at Primus Partners.

India’s farm sector continues to be the backbone of the economy—supporting over half the workforce and delivering record-breaking production in key crops like rice, wheat, and maize. But beneath these achievements lies a pressing question: Is the focus shifting from sheer output to sustainable productivity and farmer prosperity?Ramakrishnan offers a grounded perspective on the productivity gap—highlighting how India’s yields still lag global benchmarks despite significant investments. The conversation dives into the mixed response of farmers—some driven by market opportunities and export potential, while others remain tied to policy structures like MSP and traditional practices.A key theme is the disconnect between agri-innovation and on-ground adoption. Despite the availability of cutting-edge solutions—from AI-based advisories to IoT-enabled soil monitoring—adoption remains low due to fragmented landholdings, affordability constraints, and last-mile challenges.

The episode also tackles a critical issue: farmer incomes. Even as agricultural production rises, income growth remains limited. 

(Host: Subramani Ra Mancombu; Producers: Siddharth MC, Renil S Varghese)

Published on May 29, 2026