ICAR -NIAP

Welcome to ICAR-NIAP

ICAR-National Institute (Formerly Centre) of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research (NIAP) was established by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in March 1991 to strengthen agricultural economics and policy research in the National Agricultural Research System.

From Research to Impact Payoffs to Investment in Agricultural Research and Extension in India

Agricultural research, innovations, knowledge, and information are crucial for addressing the current and future challenges to the agri-food system transformation, especially in countries like India that face acute resource constraints of land, water, and energy, and are highly exposed to climate risks. (document size- 7.22 MB, PDF, English)

Our Vision

Leveraging Innovations for Attaining Efficient, Inclusive and Eco-friendly Agricultural Growth through Agricultural Economics and Policy Research

Our Mission

To strengthen agricultural economics research for providing economically viable, socially-acceptable and environmentally-feasible policy options for science-led agricultural growth

Honours and Awards

NAAS Fellows
Dr. Pratap Singh Birthal - Fellow, Elected 2010

Dr. Suresh Pal - Fellow, Elected 2009
NAAS Recognition Award
Dr. Pratap Singh Birthal (2015)
Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award
Dr Suresh Pal (2020)
Prof. Pratap Singh Birthal (2016)
Prof. Ramesh Chand (2010)
ICAR-National Professors
Prof. Pratap Singh Birthal (2017 onwards)
Prof. Ramesh Chand (2006-2010)
Prof. Dayanath Jha (2000-2005)
Fellow of Indian Society of Agricultural Economics
Prof. Ramesh Chand (2013)
Dr. Suresh Pal (2017)
Dr. Pratap Singh Birthal (2017)
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Research

Themes

Technology and Sustainable Agriculture Agricultural Growth and Development Markets, Trade and Institutions

Projects

Ongoing Completed Consultancy

Research Papers

Capacity Building

Publications

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Significant Achievements

Technology Policy

India spends only 0.4 percent of its agricultural gross domestic product on agricultural research much lower than in the developed countries. There is sufficient evidence to show that the payoff from investment in agricultural R&D is very attractive. Increased investment in agricultural research is required to keep yield frontiers moving upward, to reduce cost of production and improve resilience of production systems. The study on total factor productivity (TFP) for major crops indicates that the highest growth in TFP has been reported for wheat and maize (1.6 per cent) for the period 1996-2005...

Irrigation

Equity in the use of surface water has improved over time in most of the states. Streamlining of accounting procedure to link cost recovery and O&M funding is essential. Irrigation department should be empowered to identify water user categories, enforce water supply measurement and charge the bulk users. Although physical performance of irrigation projects showed a substantial growth during successive five year plans, it coexists with increasing gap between irrigation potential created and utilized...

Diversification and Poverty

Diversification of agriculture towards high-value enterprises such as horticulture and animal husbandry that generate higher returns matches with resource endowments and income requirements of smallholder farmers who allocate larger area to highvalue crops, and are also more efficient in then production compared to lamer farmers. The incidence of poverty is less among those engaged in these enterprises the biggest impact being on marginal and small farmers...

Food Demand

By 2050 availability of resources for agriculture will increase but at a slower rate as compared to the growth in food demand. This underlines importance of improving resource use efficiency and technological breakthroughs. In order to strike a balance between the future demand and supply of agricultural products, the Institute has suggested to target a) significant increase in land productivity, b) twofold increase in water productivity, c) doubling energy use efficiency, and d) five times increase in labour productivity by 2050.

Trade

In order to benefit from globalisation, emphasis on food safety measures and compliance with various SPS measures are essential. This is essential to harness the untapped potential of dairy product exports to developed countries like USA, EU and Japan. ...

Reforming Markets

Price policy and market reforms should (i) enhance competition in the marketplace by linking farmers to markets through institutional innovations such as contract farming and producer associations; (ii) promote investment in public infrastructure (roads electricity, and communication) that reduces transportation and transaction costs...

Livestock Policy

Livestock sector despite its considerable potential to enhance and sustain agricultural growth has remained underinvested and neglected by financial institutions (credit and insurance) and support services...

Land Reforms

Tenancy laws of various states should be suitably amended keeping in view the region specific needs. As far as possible, leasing-in of land only by small and marginal farmers should be allowed, while large farmers should be encouraged to take up non-farm enterprises...

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