Indian agriculture has made rapid strides since Independence. In taking the annual food grains production from 51 million tonnes in early fifties to 206 million tonnes at the turn of the century, it has contributed significantly in achieving self-sufficiency in food and in avoiding food shortages.

2.  Agriculture Overview
 New Economy Policy and New agricultural
policy
 Opportunities & Threats
 Opportunities to Export Agricultural Products
 Increase Income from farming
 Lots of Room to grow in food processing
 Marketing of Fresh agriculture produce
 Corporate farming
 Contract farming

3. Indian agriculture has made rapid strides since
Independence. In taking the annual food grains
production from 51 million tonnes in early
fifties to 206 million tonnes at the turn of the
century, it has contributed significantly in
achieving self-sufficiency in food and in
avoiding food shortages.

4.  Over 4 per cent annual growth rate aimed over
next two decades..
 Greater private sector participation through
contract farming.
 Price protection for farmers.
 National agricultural insurance scheme to be
launched.
 Dismantling of restrictions on movement of
agricultural commodities throughout the country.
 Rational utilisation of country's water resources
for optimum use of irrigation potential.

5.  High priority to development of animal
husbandry, poultry, dairy and aquaculture.
 Capital inflow and assured markets for crop
production.
 Exemption from payment of capital gains tax on
compulsory acquisition of agricultural land.
 Minimise fluctuations in commodity prices.
 Continuous monitoring of international prices.
 Plant varieties to be protected through a
legislation.
 Adequate and timely supply of quality inputs to
farmers.

6.  Rain fed Agriculture
 Diversification
 Organic Farming
 Food Processing Sector

7.  Size of Holdings
 Land Degradation
 Climate Change
 Declining Interest in Agriculture
 Crop loss due to weeds, insect and diseases

8. Agricultural exports were 44 % of total exports
in FY 1960; they decreased to 32 % in FY 1970,
to 31 % in FY 1980, to 18.5 % in FY 1988, and to
15.3 % in FY 1993.

11.  Knowledge
 Crop
 Market
 Mechanisation

12.  Food processing
 Food processing sector is indispensable for
the development of the economy. It helps to
commercialize farming which gives farmers
the opportunity to diversify and increase
their income and generates employment.

13.  Primary processing of food comprises of
sorting, grading and packaging of fruits and
vegetables, milk, rice, spices, etc.
 Secondary processing of food comprises of
re-shaping of food for ease of consumption.
It includes flour, oil cakes, tea leaf and
beverages powder.
 Tertiary Processing of Food (or) Value Added
Food Segment Value added food segment
includes processed fruits and vegetables,
juices, jam & jelly etc.

15.  Indian agriculture is under policy reforms for
some time now. One of the issues it faces is
that of lack of viability of smallholdings and
lack of international competitiveness of its
produce.

16.  Rallies India Limited
 Nuziveedu Seeds Limited
 Lemken India Agro Equipments Private
Limited
 Advanta Limited
 Advanta Limited
 Godrej Agrovet Limited
 Rasi Seeds

17.  Inputs and production services are often
supplied by the sponsor
 This is usually done on credit through
advances from the sponsor
 Contract farming often introduces new
technology and also enables farmers to learn
new skills
 Farmers' price risk is often reduced as many
contracts specify prices in advance
 Contract farming can open up new markets
which would otherwise be unavailable to
small farmers

18.  Particularly when growing new crops, farmers
face the risks of both market failure and
production problems
 Inefficient management or marketing problems
can mean that quotas are manipulated so that
not all contracted production is purchased
 Sponsoring companies may be unreliable or
exploit a monopoly position
 The staff of sponsoring organizations may be
corrupt, particularly in the allocation of quotas
 Farmers may become indebted because of
production problems and excessive advances

19.  Philodendron Plant Contract Farming
 Swastik Shakti Biocare Pvt. Ltd.
 Varun Agro Processing Foods Pvt. Ltd
 Stevia Herb Plant

20.  Reduced Agricultural Wastage
 Better Quality Yield
 Reduced Minimum Support Price
 New Technology
 Boosting the Agricultural Sector

21.  Lower Profits for Farming Households
 Reduced Nutrition
 Higher Environmental Costs
 Risk of Monopolistic Economies

22.  Structural changes in global agricultural
markets
 Technological changes and trade costs
 Agricultural trade distortions and policy
reforms
 Crude oil price trends: effect on biofuel
demand
 Policies distorting agricultural incentives
 Agricultural research and development
investments