India, Jan. 29 -- Between 1961 and 2025 India's foodgrain production increased by 300 (a feat achieved with just 38% increase in the net-sown area), allowing food security for a population that nearly tripled over the same period.This was achieved by investing in the fundamentals of productive agriculture - science, policies, inputs extension support, supply chain logistics, finance, marketing infrastructure, and above all, a shared belief that we could do it, and that we must.

India's performance in producing wood and other tree-based products is the opposite. We are one of the largest importers of wood and wood-based finished products-$ 6.8 billion in 2023 and projected to rise at 15% per annum. A deeply concerning prospect for a count...