India must shift to market-driven farming: ICAR’s Jat

M L Jat, Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research & Education (DARE), said on Tuesday that self-reliant farmers are crucial to India’s development. Speaking at the Rural Voice Agriculture Conclave and Awards 2025 in Delhi, Jat called for innovation, specialised farming zones, skill development, stronger market linkages, and a shift from subsidies to incentives to advance technology- and market-led agriculture.

Subsidies, Jat noted, restrict crop choices, while incentives and…