New Delhi, April 14 -- By 2047, India's aggregate food demand is projected to exceed twice the current demand, whereas the demand for nutrient-rich foods, including horticultural and animal products, is expected to increase three to four times. However, agricultural land needed to meet this increased food demand is expected to shrink to 176 million hectares (mha) from the current 180 mha, according to an analysis by ICAR-National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research (ICAR-NIAP).

To sustain these projected changes, the researchers have called for reallocation of resources from traditional staples to more diverse and nutritionally rich commodities.

"Fruits, vegetables, pulses, and oilseeds are key crops that require inc...