From field to granary: what each PM did for farmers

At Independence, India depended on other countries for food grains. Today it produces more than 35 crore tonnes of grain and has been the world's largest milk producer since 1998. This change is the result of decades of policy and the hard work of farmers. Here is what major steps were taken for farmers under each Prime Minister.

Nehru (1947–64)

The First Five-Year Plan gave top priority to agriculture and irrigation. Large dams such as Bhakra and Hirakud were built. In 1960 the country's first agricultural university opened at Pantnagar.

Lal Bahadur Shastri (1964–66)

Amid food shortages and the 1965 war, he gave the slogan "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan". In 1965 the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) were set up, and the foundation of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system was laid.

Indira Gandhi (1966–77, 1980–84)

The Green Revolution came in her time. With high-yielding seeds, irrigation and fertilisers, wheat production nearly doubled within a few years. Operation Flood began in 1970 and made India self-sufficient in milk. In 1982 NABARD was created to provide credit to farmers and villages.

Rajiv Gandhi (1984–89)

The Technology Mission on Oilseeds was launched in 1986, known as the "Yellow Revolution". It brought a big rise in edible oil production.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1998–2004)

The Kisan Credit Card scheme began in 1998, making it easier for farmers to get loans. The National Agricultural Insurance Scheme came in 1999.

Manmohan Singh (2004–14)

The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana started in 2007. A large farm loan waiver came in 2008, and in 2013 the National Food Security Act made subsidised grain a legal right for the poor.

Narendra Modi (since 2014)

The Soil Health Card scheme came in 2015, allowing farmers to get their soil tested. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (crop insurance) started in 2016, and since 2019 farmers receive ₹6,000 a year directly in their bank accounts under PM-KISAN.