In 2023, India's arable and permanent cropland agricultural area stood at approximately 169.25 million hectares. Reviewing the past decade, from 2013 to 2023, there has been a marginal decline overall, with the area experiencing slight fluctuations year-on-year. Notably, the year-on-year variation showed minimal changes, often less than 0.1%, with a calculated CAGR of -0.0082% from 2018 to 2023, indicating a slow but consistent reduction in arable land.
For the future, the trend appears to continue on a similar trajectory, with forecasts predicting a further decline. By 2028, the area is expected to fall to 169.17 million hectares. The forecasted CAGR over the next five years is projected to be -0.01%, aligned with a 5-year growth rate of -0.04%, signifying ongoing, albeit slow, negative growth.
Future trends to watch for:
- Continued urbanization potentially reducing available agricultural land.
- Impact of climate change on land utility and crop viability.
- Technological advances in agriculture which may increase productivity on reduced land area.
