New Delhi, India – The idea of national security is undergoing a fundamental shift. It is no longer confined to borders, military strength, or internal law and order. As highlighted by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, security today spans economic resilience, digital systems, energy access, and crucially, food security. This shift is not theoretical—it reflects the realities of an interconnected and volatile global order where disruptions in supply chains, climate shocks, and geopolitical tensions can destabilise nations without a single shot being fired.
For India, this evolving understanding carries particular urgency. Agriculture is not just a sector of the economy; it is the backbone of livelihoods, a stabiliser of society, and a strategic asset that underpins national resilience. Nearly 43 percent of India’s workforce is engaged in agriculture and allied sectors, and agricultural performance directly influences inflation, particularly food inflation, which shapes monetary policy decisions. Programmes such as the National Food Security Act provide subsidised food grains to about two-thirds of the population, reducing vulnerability among low-income households and ensuring a baseline level of consumption.
However, India faces significant challenges. Around 16 percent of the population is undernourished, and child malnutrition continues to manifest in stunting, wasting, and underweight prevalence. The country is also the world’s largest importer of urea, with domestic production meeting only a fraction of demand for rock phosphate and potash. Recent geopolitical tensions in West Asia have exposed these vulnerabilities, with disruptions around key maritime routes affecting fertiliser supplies and increasing input costs. Climate change is emerging as a force multiplier, with increasing frequency of droughts, erratic monsoons, heatwaves, and floods already affecting crop yields.
To align agriculture with national security objectives, India needs a comprehensive strategy. This includes formally recognising agriculture as a strategic sector within national security frameworks, strengthening input security by reducing dependence on imported fertilisers, investing in climate-resilient agriculture, building robust supply chains, promoting diversification and nutrition, enhancing public-private collaboration, and strengthening global engagement. Food security is no longer a peripheral issue—it sits at the core of national security, economic stability, and social cohesion. Agriculture must be treated not just as a sector but as strategic infrastructure.
