Demand-supply projections for crops, livestock in the works

New Delhi: India will soon initiate long-term demand and supply projections for agricultural commodities and livestock to help increase exports, reduce wastage, keep commodity prices in check and increase diversification of crops.

The move, which is also expected to fetch better prices for farmers, has been triggered because of the change in consumption pattern since the outbreak of the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.

Government's think-tank NITI Aayog has set up a working group on demand and supply projections of crops, livestock, fisheries and agriculture inputs to assess and project demand for 2025-26, 2030-31 and 2035-36, a senior government official said.


Chaired by PS Birthal, director, ICAR-NIAP, the working group is expected to submit its report this year to help streamline production from the next fiscal year.

The projections could cover cost of these commodities in the domestic market during the period. The idea is to improve efficiency in crop and livestock production that will help keep agricultural prices in check while ensuring that farmers get better prices for their produce.

The government is of the view that such a projection is needed as the outbreak of the pandemic has globally impacted consumption, production, prices and trade. Further, the pandemic has also resulted in change in consumers preferences while the Russia-Ukraine war has increased uncertainty in future trading agreements between countries important to the agricultural commodities' trade.

"The short-term, medium-term and long-term projection of crops, agriculture inputs, livestock and fishery will help in sustainable planning for the commodities which are important for food and nutritional security," the official quoted above said.

Such estimates are also needed to cater to growth in population, increased per capita income and changes in income distribution, if any.