The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) is an institution, specifically a branch of the Government of India, serving as the apex body for formulating and administering rules, regulations, and laws related to agriculture in the country. Its primary objective is to enhance agricultural productivity, ensure national food security, and improve the livelihood and welfare of farmers.
The ministry's origins trace back to the establishment of the Department of Revenue, Agriculture, and Commerce in June 1871 during the British era, created to manage all agricultural matters. Post-independence, the Department of Agriculture was redesignated as the Ministry of Agriculture in August 1947. A significant change occurred on August 15, 2015, when the Ministry of Agriculture was renamed the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. This renaming was done to explicitly emphasize the government's commitment to the welfare of the farming community, alongside its focus on agricultural production.
The MoA&FW works through its three main departments: the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD). The DA&FW is responsible for implementing farmer-centric policies and schemes, as assigned by the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961. Key mechanisms include flagship schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), a crop insurance scheme, and the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), a direct income support scheme. The ministry also connects to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), which is managed by DARE and coordinates agricultural research and education across the country. The ministry's work is guided by a focus on sustainable practices, such as the Soil Health Card Scheme, which provides farmers with soil-specific nutrient recommendations.