China’s population represents approximately 18% of the global population. China possesses 10% of the world’s total arable land, yet it sustains over 20% of the global population. The country’s total food production has reached 687 million tons, maintaining a level above 650 million tons for eight consecutive years. Within this total, grain production stands at an impressive 633 million tons, which constitutes nearly 23% of the world’s overall grain output. China’s landmass and economy occupy approximately 55% of its landmass and contribute to over 12% of the global GDP. In addition, around 50% of its workforce is engaged in agriculture. In 2023, China’s total grain production reached 695.41 million tons (equivalent to 1,390.8 billion jin), marking an increase of 8.88 million tons (or 17.8 billion jin), which represents a growth of 1.3% compared to the figures from 2022. In breakdown, China’s exports of agricultural products increased 0.9 % year-on-year to 98.93 billion dollars, while its imports dipped 0.3 % to 234.11 billion dollars.

The U.S. is the world’s largest country by landmass and a net exporter of food, contributed by the agricultural sector.  Due to mechanised farming, the US is the leader in crop production and seed improvement. Twenty-three per cent of the exported products in the USA are obtained through agriculture. The U.S. agricultural exports have experienced consistent growth over the last 25 years, culminating in a total of $174 billion in 2023, compared to $57.3 billion in 1998. Throughout this quarter-century period, the composition of these agricultural exports has evolved, mirroring shifts in global supply and demand dynamics. In 2023, agriculture, food, and associated industries accounted for approximately $1.530 trillion of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP), representing a share of 5.6 %. Of this total, the output from American farms contributed $203.5 billion, which is around 0.7 % of the overall U.S. GDPBrazil.

Brazil stands as a significant agricultural and industrial powerhouse, recognized as the leading economy in Latin America and the Caribbean. The country excels in the production of various commodities, including coffee, sugarcane, soybeans, beef, and poultry. Notably, Brazil has achieved remarkable advancements in poverty alleviation, reducing the poverty rate from 64 % in 1990 to 28 % by 2021. The Center for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics at the University of São Paulo has estimated that when factoring in activities such as processing and distribution, the agriculture and food sector in Brazil constitutes 29 % of the nation’s GDP, which was valued at $1.8 trillion in 2021. In 2023, Brazilian agribusiness exports reached an unprecedented level, totaling US$ 166.55 billion. This figure marks a 4.8% increase compared to the previous year, translating to an additional US$ 7.68 billion in export value. Agribusiness represented a significant portion of Brazil’s overall export activity, accounting for 49% of total exports in 2023, up from 47.5% in 2022. In 2023, Brazil emerged as the foremost exporter of ten key agricultural products globally. These commodities included soybeans, soybean meal, corn, sugar, coffee, orange juice, beef, poultry, tobacco, and cellulose. The country experienced a significant increase in protein exports during this year; specifically, pork exports rose by 9.2%, while poultry exports increased by 7.7%, and beef exports saw a growth of 1.2%.

India

India is presently the second largest global producer of various dry fruits, textile raw materials derived from agriculture, root and tuber crops, pulses, aquaculture fish, eggs, coconuts, sugarcane, and a wide array of vegetables. According to the Economic Survey 2022-23 presented in Parliament by Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt., India’s food grain production reached a record high of 315.7 million tonnes in the 2021-22 period, despite facing challenges posed by climate change. The present contribution of agriculture to India’s GDP is approximately 18-19%. The most recent estimates for the fiscal year 2022-23 indicate that the Gross Value Added (GVA) from agriculture and related sectors accounts for 18.3% of the overall Indian economy.

Despite a decrease in its agricultural exports in 2023, which fell to $51 billion from $55 billion in 2022, India retained its status as the world’s eighth-largest exporter of agricultural products. This was noted as seven of the top ten exporting countries also experienced a decline, according to data compiled by the WTO.

In the final quarter of 2023, India’s agriculture sector contributed over 7 trillion Indian rupees to the nation’s GDP. This marked a notable increase compared to the contribution in the third quarter. The agriculture sector’s contribution typically follows a cyclical pattern, with the fourth quarter being the strongest period of the year.

Time to Roll Up the Sleeves

As the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development acknowledges the critical role that agriculture will play in achieving the highlighted line items of the agenda, the universal call to action to end poverty and ensure prosperity for all cannot be over-emphasised. Therefore, prioritising rural development through deliberate investment in agriculture remains an essential strategy for eradicating poverty and hunger while promoting sustainable development. Relevant government agencies across the world and international organizations including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO) must collaborate and mobilise adequate resources to speed up every action in this regard.