A STUDY ON THE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND FOOD SECURITY IN INDIA

Agriculture has historically been the backbone of the Indian economy, providing livelihood to over half
the population and ensuring national food availability. While the Green Revolution transformed India
from a food-deficit nation to one capable of self-sufficiency, excessive reliance on chemical inputs,
monocropping, and groundwater exploitation has created serious environmental and socio
economic imbalances that threaten long-term food security. This article undertakes a critical socio
legal analysis of the relationship between sustainable agricultural practices and food security in India.
It examines the constitutional and statutory frameworks—including the National Food Security Act
2013, the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, and allied environmental legislation—and
evaluates their effectiveness in integrating sustainability with food security objectives. Drawing on
international frameworks such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement, and
comparative models from the European Union and Argentina, the article identifies persistent
structural barriers including fragmented landholdings, inadequate credit, certification burdens,
market failures, and governance deficits. It concludes that India's future food security is contingent on
a systemic shift from a production-centric to a sustainability-oriented agricultural paradigm,
supported by comprehensive legal reform, inclusive policy design, and coordinated institutional
action.
Keywords: Sustainable agriculture, food security, National Food Security Act 2013, National Mission for
Sustainable Agriculture, Green Revolution, organic farming, Zero Budget Natural Farming, socio-legal
analysis, agricultural law, India