Agriculture involves cultivating plants and animals for food, fiber and other products. It was a key development in the rise of sedentary civilization, allowing food surpluses that supported larger populations. Agriculture has a long history worldwide and has been driven by varying climates, cultures and technologies. In India, agriculture accounts for about 17% of GDP and employs over 50% of the workforce, though these figures are declining with broader economic growth. India is the world's largest producer of many crops, including rice, wheat, milk, sugarcane and fruits/vegetables. Average crop yields have increased substantially in India over the past 50 years but remain below global best practices.
The agriculture sector employs nearly half of the workforce in the country. However, it contributes to 17.5% of the GDP (at current prices in 2015-16).Agriculture sector’s contribution has decreased from more than 50% of GDP in the 1950s to 15.4% in 2015-16 (at constant prices). This slides discuss about Indian agriculture status and problems and solutions.
INTRODUCTION - AGRICULTURE IN INDIA - INDIA IN WORLD OF AGRICULTURE - ROLE OF AGRICULTURE IN INDIAN ECONOMY - PROVISION FOR FOOD GRAINS - SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR THE GOVERNMENT - GREEN REVOLUTION - GREEN REVELATION EFFECTS
Indira Gandhi Institute for Development Studies(IGIDR), and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) on
‘Harnessing Opportunities to Improve Agri-Food Systems’ on July 24-25 , 2014 in New Delhi.
The two day conference aims to discuss the agricultural priority of the government and develop a road map to realise these priorities for improved agri food systems.
Agriculture in India has a significant history. Today, India ranks second worldwide in farm output. The economic contribution of agriculture to India's GDP is steadily declining with the country's broad-based economic growth. Still, agriculture is demographically the broadest economic sector and plays a significant role in the overall socio-economic fabric of India.
India is a leading producer of grains and other essential commodities. The new modern techniques used for agriculture have increased the production thus adding to the economy of the nation.
India is considered as one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Agriculture is the mother of any economy, whether it is rich or poor. Much of its influence is on the other sectors of economy - industry and service. India is the second largest in farm output. Hence, India’s economic security continues to be predicated upon the agriculture sector, and the situation is not likely to change in the near future. Even today, the share of agriculture in employment is about 49% of the population, as against around 75% at the time of independence. In the same period, the contribution of agriculture and allied sector to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has fallen from 61% to 17% in 2015-16. Around 51% of India’s geographical area is already under cultivation as compared to 11% of the world average. China with lesser cultivable land produces double the food grains, i.e. 607 million tons in 2015 -16 as compared with India’s 252 million tons in 2015-16. The present cropping intensity of 136% has registered an increase of only 25% since independence. Further, rain fed dry lands constitute 65% of the total net sown area. There is also an unprecedented degradation of land (107 million ha) and groundwater resource, and also fall in the rate of growth of total factor productivity. This deceleration needs to be arrested and agricultural productivity has to be doubled to meet growing demands of the population by 2050. Natural resource base of agriculture, which provides for sustainable production, is shrinking and degrading, and is adversely affecting production capacity of the ecosystem. However, demand for agriculture is rising rapidly with increase in population and per capita income and growing demand from industry sector. There is, thus, an urgent need to identify severity of problem confronting agriculture sector to restore its vitality and put it back on higher growth trajectory. The problems, however, are surmountable, particularly when new tools of science and technology have started offering tremendous opportunities for application in agriculture. However, the country recorded impressive achievements in agriculture during three decades since the onset of green revolution in late sixties. This enabled the country to overcome widespread hunger and starvation; achieve self-sufficiency in food; reduce poverty and bring economic transformation in millions of rural families. The situation, however, started turning adverse for the sector around mid-nineties, with slowdown in growth rate of output, which then resulted in stagnation or even decline in farmers’ income leading to agrarian distress, which is spreading and turning more and more serious. This Paper attempts to focus attention on Issues, Challenges and Government policies of Indian Agriculture in the context of Globalization.
contribution of agriculture to the national economy employment and output shubham chavan
this is very good and help full for you all, and it will give you idea of contribution of agriculture to the national economy employment and output .
thank you....
At 179.9 million hectares, India holds the second largest agricultural land in the world. A majority of the Indian population relies on agriculture for employment and livelihood. Steady investments in technology development, irrigation infrastructure, emphasis on modern agricultural practices and provision of agricultural credit and subsidies are the major factors contributing to agriculture growth.
The country has today emerged as a major player in the global agriculture market. Agriculture accounts for 14 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) and about 11 per cent of India’s total exports; it is also an essential link in the supply chain of the manufacturing sector and at the same time constitutes a big market for industrial products. Currently, India is the world's largest rice exporter and second in terms of wheat exports. Horticulture exports have also seen good growth. India's agro exports during 2013–14 touched US$ 45 billion as against US$ 25 billion in 2011–12.
The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation under the Ministry of Agriculture is the nodal organisation responsible for development of the agriculture sector in India. The organisation is responsible for formulation and implementation of national policies and programmes aimed at achieving rapid agricultural growth through optimum utilisation of land, water, soil and plant resources of the country.
Critically Analyze the Transitional Dynamics in the Agriculture sector. What is Green Revolution? How Agriculture sector can be made an engine of economic growth with special reference to Pakistan?
The agriculture sector employs nearly half of the workforce in the country. However, it contributes to 17.5% of the GDP (at current prices in 2015-16).Agriculture sector’s contribution has decreased from more than 50% of GDP in the 1950s to 15.4% in 2015-16 (at constant prices). This slides discuss about Indian agriculture status and problems and solutions.
INTRODUCTION - AGRICULTURE IN INDIA - INDIA IN WORLD OF AGRICULTURE - ROLE OF AGRICULTURE IN INDIAN ECONOMY - PROVISION FOR FOOD GRAINS - SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR THE GOVERNMENT - GREEN REVOLUTION - GREEN REVELATION EFFECTS
Indira Gandhi Institute for Development Studies(IGIDR), and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) on
‘Harnessing Opportunities to Improve Agri-Food Systems’ on July 24-25 , 2014 in New Delhi.
The two day conference aims to discuss the agricultural priority of the government and develop a road map to realise these priorities for improved agri food systems.
Agriculture in India has a significant history. Today, India ranks second worldwide in farm output. The economic contribution of agriculture to India's GDP is steadily declining with the country's broad-based economic growth. Still, agriculture is demographically the broadest economic sector and plays a significant role in the overall socio-economic fabric of India.
India is a leading producer of grains and other essential commodities. The new modern techniques used for agriculture have increased the production thus adding to the economy of the nation.
India is considered as one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Agriculture is the mother of any economy, whether it is rich or poor. Much of its influence is on the other sectors of economy - industry and service. India is the second largest in farm output. Hence, India’s economic security continues to be predicated upon the agriculture sector, and the situation is not likely to change in the near future. Even today, the share of agriculture in employment is about 49% of the population, as against around 75% at the time of independence. In the same period, the contribution of agriculture and allied sector to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has fallen from 61% to 17% in 2015-16. Around 51% of India’s geographical area is already under cultivation as compared to 11% of the world average. China with lesser cultivable land produces double the food grains, i.e. 607 million tons in 2015 -16 as compared with India’s 252 million tons in 2015-16. The present cropping intensity of 136% has registered an increase of only 25% since independence. Further, rain fed dry lands constitute 65% of the total net sown area. There is also an unprecedented degradation of land (107 million ha) and groundwater resource, and also fall in the rate of growth of total factor productivity. This deceleration needs to be arrested and agricultural productivity has to be doubled to meet growing demands of the population by 2050. Natural resource base of agriculture, which provides for sustainable production, is shrinking and degrading, and is adversely affecting production capacity of the ecosystem. However, demand for agriculture is rising rapidly with increase in population and per capita income and growing demand from industry sector. There is, thus, an urgent need to identify severity of problem confronting agriculture sector to restore its vitality and put it back on higher growth trajectory. The problems, however, are surmountable, particularly when new tools of science and technology have started offering tremendous opportunities for application in agriculture. However, the country recorded impressive achievements in agriculture during three decades since the onset of green revolution in late sixties. This enabled the country to overcome widespread hunger and starvation; achieve self-sufficiency in food; reduce poverty and bring economic transformation in millions of rural families. The situation, however, started turning adverse for the sector around mid-nineties, with slowdown in growth rate of output, which then resulted in stagnation or even decline in farmers’ income leading to agrarian distress, which is spreading and turning more and more serious. This Paper attempts to focus attention on Issues, Challenges and Government policies of Indian Agriculture in the context of Globalization.
contribution of agriculture to the national economy employment and output shubham chavan
this is very good and help full for you all, and it will give you idea of contribution of agriculture to the national economy employment and output .
thank you....
At 179.9 million hectares, India holds the second largest agricultural land in the world. A majority of the Indian population relies on agriculture for employment and livelihood. Steady investments in technology development, irrigation infrastructure, emphasis on modern agricultural practices and provision of agricultural credit and subsidies are the major factors contributing to agriculture growth.
The country has today emerged as a major player in the global agriculture market. Agriculture accounts for 14 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) and about 11 per cent of India’s total exports; it is also an essential link in the supply chain of the manufacturing sector and at the same time constitutes a big market for industrial products. Currently, India is the world's largest rice exporter and second in terms of wheat exports. Horticulture exports have also seen good growth. India's agro exports during 2013–14 touched US$ 45 billion as against US$ 25 billion in 2011–12.
The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation under the Ministry of Agriculture is the nodal organisation responsible for development of the agriculture sector in India. The organisation is responsible for formulation and implementation of national policies and programmes aimed at achieving rapid agricultural growth through optimum utilisation of land, water, soil and plant resources of the country.
Critically Analyze the Transitional Dynamics in the Agriculture sector. What is Green Revolution? How Agriculture sector can be made an engine of economic growth with special reference to Pakistan?
Uday salunkhe challenges and opportunties for agri sector in indiaudaysalunkhe
This article talks about the Challenges and opportunities for agriculture sector in India. It has been co- authored by Dr. Uday Salunkhe, Director of the prestigious Welingkar Institute of Management and Research
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This presentation captures recent advances made in Indian agriculture. Not many know that India ranks 2nd globally in form of production. The presentation also highlight the unique strengths of Indian agriculture that help capturing global glory.
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Operation “Blue Star” is the only event in the history of Independent India where the state went into war with its own people. Even after about 40 years it is not clear if it was culmination of states anger over people of the region, a political game of power or start of dictatorial chapter in the democratic setup.
The people of Punjab felt alienated from main stream due to denial of their just demands during a long democratic struggle since independence. As it happen all over the word, it led to militant struggle with great loss of lives of military, police and civilian personnel. Killing of Indira Gandhi and massacre of innocent Sikhs in Delhi and other India cities was also associated with this movement.
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It is possible to hide or invisible some fields in odoo. Commonly using “invisible” attribute in the field definition to invisible the fields. This slide will show how to make a field invisible in odoo 17.
A Strategic Approach: GenAI in EducationPeter Windle
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as Generative AI, Image Generators and Large Language Models have had a dramatic impact on teaching, learning and assessment over the past 18 months. The most immediate threat AI posed was to Academic Integrity with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) focusing their efforts on combating the use of GenAI in assessment. Guidelines were developed for staff and students, policies put in place too. Innovative educators have forged paths in the use of Generative AI for teaching, learning and assessments leading to pockets of transformation springing up across HEIs, often with little or no top-down guidance, support or direction.
This Gasta posits a strategic approach to integrating AI into HEIs to prepare staff, students and the curriculum for an evolving world and workplace. We will highlight the advantages of working with these technologies beyond the realm of teaching, learning and assessment by considering prompt engineering skills, industry impact, curriculum changes, and the need for staff upskilling. In contrast, not engaging strategically with Generative AI poses risks, including falling behind peers, missed opportunities and failing to ensure our graduates remain employable. The rapid evolution of AI technologies necessitates a proactive and strategic approach if we are to remain relevant.
Synthetic Fiber Construction in lab .pptxPavel ( NSTU)
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CLASS 11 CBSE B.St Project AIDS TO TRADE - INSURANCE
Agriculture
1. Agriculture, also called farming or husbandry, is the cultivation of animals,
plants, fungi, and other life forms for food, fiber, biofuel, and other products used
to sustain and enhance human life.
Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization,
whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the
development of civilization.
The history of agriculture dates back thousands of years, and its development has
been driven and defined by greatly different climates, cultures, and technologies.
Until the Industrial Revolution, the vast majority of the human population
labored in agriculture. Pre-industrial agriculture was typically subsistence
agriculture in which farmers raised most of their crops for their own consumption
instead of for trade.
Agriculture in India has a significant history. Today, India ranks second
worldwide in farm output. Agriculture and allied sectors like forestry and fisheries
accounted for 16.6 % of the GDP in 2009, about 50 % of the total workforce. The
economic contribution of agriculture to India's GDP is steadily declining with the
country's broad-based economic growth. Still, agriculture is demographically the
broadest economic sector and plays a significant role in the overall socio-economic
fabric of India.
2. Agriculture is the main sector of Indian economy which is amply powered by the
following points:-
1. Share in National Income: The contribution from agriculture has been
continuously falling from 55.1% in 1950-51 to 37.6% in 1981-82 & further to
18.5% in 2006-07. But agriculture still continues to be the main sector because it
provides livelihood to a majority of the people.
2. Largest Employment Providing Sector: in 1951, 69.5% of the working
population was engaged in agriculture. This percentage fell to 66.9% in 1991 &
to 56.7% in 2001. However, with rapid increase in population the absolute
number of people engaged in agriculture has become exceedingly large.
3. Contribution to Capital formation: There is a general agreement on the
importance of Capital Formation in economic development. Unless the rate of
Capital Formation increases to a sufficient high degree, economic development
cannot be achieved. Agriculture can play a big role in pushing the Capital
Formation in India. Rural sector can transfer labor & capital to the industrial
sector which can be effectively used to increase the productivity in the latter.
4. Providing Raw Material to industries: Agriculture provides raw materials to
various industries of national importance. Sugar industry, Jute industry, Cotton
textile industry, Vanaspati industry are examples of some such industries which
depend on agriculture for their development.
5. Market for Industrial Products: Since more than two-thirds of the population of
India lives in rural areas, increased rural purchasing power is a valuable stimulus
to industrial development.
6. Importance in International Trade: Agriculture constitutes about 75% of the
total exports of the country. Such is the importance of agriculture as far as
earnings of foreign exchange are concerned.
3. Factors of production are the inputs to the production process. Finished goods are
the output.Input determines the quantity of output i.e. output depends upon input. Input is the
starting point and output is the end point of production process and such input-output
relationship is called a production function.
Every production is organised by combining land, labour, physical capital and human capital,
which are known as factors of production.
'Factors of production' may also refer specifically to the 'primary factors', which are stocks
including land, labor, and capital goods applied to production. Materials and energy are
considered secondary factors because they are obtained from land, labor and capital.
Agriculture or farming can be looked at as a system. The important inputs are seeds, fertilisers,
machinery andlabour. Some of the operations involved are ploughing,sowing, irrigation,weeding
and harvesting. The outputsfrom the system include crops, wool, dairy and poultry products.
The first factor is land, and other natural resources such as water, forests, minerals. The second
requirement is labour, i.e. people who will do the work. Some production activities require
highly educated workers to perform the necessary tasks. Other activities require workers who
can do manual work. Each worker is the labour necessary for production. The third requirement
is physical capital, i.e. the variety of inputs required at every stage during production.
providing
4. Over 50 years since its independence, India has made immense progress towards food security.
Indian population has tripled, but food-grain production more than quadrupled: there has thus
been substantial increase in available food-grain per capita.
Prior to the mid-1960s India relied on imports and food aid to meet domestic requirements.
However, two years of severe drought in 1965 and 1966 convinced India to reform its
agricultural policy, and that India could not rely on foreign aid and foreign imports for food
security. India adopted significant policy reforms focused on the goal of foodgrain self-sufficiency.
This ushered in India's Green Revolution. It began with the decision to adopt
superior yielding, disease resistant wheat varieties in combination with better farming
knowledge to improve productivity. The Indian state of Punjab led India's green revolution and
earned itself the distinction of being the country's bread basket.
The initial increase in production was centred on the irrigated areas of the Indian states of
Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh. With both the farmers and the government officials
focusing on farm productivity and knowledge transfer, India's total foodgrain production soared.
A hectare of Indian wheat farms that produced an average of 0.8 tonnes in 1948, produced 4.7
tonnes of wheat in 1975 from the same land. Such rapid growths in farm productivity enabled
India to become self-sufficient by the 1970s. It also empowered the smallholder farmers to seek
further means to increase food staples produced per hectare. By 2000, Indian farms were
adopting wheat varieties capable of yielding 6 tonnes of wheat per hectare.
With agricultural policy success in wheat, India's Green Revolution technology spread to rice.
However, since irrigation infrastructure was very poor, Indian farmer innovated with tube-wells,
to harvest ground water. When gains from the new technology reached their limits in the states
of initial adoption, the technology spread in the 1970s and 1980s to the states of eastern India —
Bihar and West Bengal. The lasting benefits of the improved seeds and new technology
extended principally to the irrigated areas which account for about one-third of the harvested
crop area. In the 1980s, Indian agriculture policy shifted to "evolution of a production pattern in
line with the demand pattern" leading to a shift in emphasis to other agricultural commodities
like oilseed, fruit and vegetables. Farmers began adopting improved methods and technologies in
dairying, fisheries and livestock, and meeting the diversified food needs of India's growing
population. As with Rice, the lasting benefits of improved seeds and improved farming
technologies now largely depends on whether India develops infrastructure such as irrigation
network, flood control systems, reliable electricity production capacity, all season rural and
urban highways, cold storage to prevent food spoilage, modern retail, and competitive buyers of
5. produce from the Indian farmer. This is increasingly the focus of Indian agriculture policy.
India's agricultural economy is undergoing structural changes. Between 1970 and 2011, the GDP
share of agriculture has fallen from 43 to 16 %. This isn't because of reduced importance of
agriculture, or a consequence of agricultural policy. This is largely because of the rapid
economic growth in services, industrial output, and non-agricultural sectors in India between
2000 to 2010.
Farming lands HYV Seeds
Pesticides Harvesting
6. Agriculture in India, largest crops by economic value
Economic
value
Unit price Average yield,
India
(2010)
World's most
productive
farms
(2010)
Rank Produce (2009 prices,
US$)
(US$ /
kilogram)
(tonnes per
hectare)
(tonnes per
hectare)
Country
1 Rice $38.42 billion 0.27 3.3 10.8 Australia
2 Buffalo milk $24.86 billion 0.4 1.7 1.9 Pakistan
3 Cow milk $17.13 billion 0.31 1.2 10.3 Israel
4 Wheat $12.14 billion 0.15 2.8 8.9 Netherlands
5 Mangoes $9 billion 0.6 6.3 40.6 Cape Verde
6 Sugar cane $8.92 billion 0.03 66 125 Peru
7 Bananas $8.38 billion 0.28 37.8 59.3 Indonesia
8 Cotton $8.13 billion 1.43 1.6 4.6 Israel
9 Fresh
Vegetables
$5.97 billion 0.19 13.4 76.8 USA
10 Potatoes $5.67 billion 0.15 19.9 44.3 USA
11 Tomatoes $4.59 billion 0.37 19.3 524.9 Belgium
12 Buffalo meat $4 billion 2.69 0.138 0.424 Thailand
13 Soyabean $3.33 billion 0.26 1.1 3.7 Turkey
14 Onions $3.17 billion 0.21 16.6 67.3 Ireland
15 Chicken Meat $3.12 billion 0.64 10.6 20.2 Cyprus
16 Chick peas $3.11 billion 0.4 0.9 2.8 China
17 Okra $3.07 billion 0.35 7.6 23.9 Israel
18 Cattle Meat $2.93 billion 0.83 13.8 24.7 Jordan
19 Eggs $2.80 billion 2.7 0.1 0.42 Japan
20 Beans $2.57 billion 0.42 1.1 5.5 Nicaragua
7. Agriculture productivity in India, growth in average yields from 1970 to 2010
Crop Average YIELD, 1970-
1971
Average YIELD, 1990-
1991
Average YIELD, 2010–
2011
kilogram per hectare kilogram per hectare kilogram per hectare
Rice 1123 1740 2240
Wheat 1307 2281 2938
Pulses 524 578 689
Oilseeds 579 771 1325
Sugarcane 48322 65395 68596
Tea 1182 1652 1669
Cotton 106 225 510
The Statistics Office of the Food and Agriculture Organisation reported that, per final
numbers for 2009, India had grown to become the world's largest producer of the following
agricultural produce:
● Fresh Fruit
● Lemons and limes
● Buffalo milk - whole, fresh
● Castor oil seeds
● Sunflower seeds
● Sorghum
● Millet
● Spices
● Okra
● Jute
● Beeswax
● Bananas
● Mangoes, mangosteens, guavas
● Pulses
● Indigenous Buffalo Meat
● Fruit, tropical
● Ginger
● Chick peas
● Areca nuts
● Other Bastfibres
● Pigeon peas
● Papayas
● Chillies and peppers, dry
● Anise, badian, fennel, coriander
8. ● Goat milk, whole, fresh
Per final numbers for 2009, India is the world's second largest producer of the following
agricultural produce:
● Wheat
● Rice
● Vegetables, fresh
● Sugar cane
● Groundnuts, with shell
● Lentils
● Garlic
● Cauliflowers and broccoli
● Peas, green
● Sesame seed
● Cashew nuts, with shell
● Silk-worm cocoons, reelable
● Cow milk, whole, fresh
● Tea
● Potatoes
● Onions
● Cotton lint
● Cottonseed
● Eggplants (aubergines)
● Nutmeg, mace and cardamoms
● Indigenous Goat Meat
● Cabbages and other brassicas
● Pumpkins, squash and gourds
In 2009, India was the world's third largest producer of eggs, oranges, coconuts,
tomatoes, peas and beans.
In addition to growth in total output, agriculture in India has shown an increase in average
agricultural output per hectare in last 60 years. The table below presents average farm
productivity in India over three farming years for some crops. Improving road and power
generation infrastructure, knowledge gains and reforms has allowed India to increase farm
productivity between 40 % to 500 % over 40 years. India's recent accomplishments in crop
yields while being impressive, are still just 30 % to 60 % of the best crop yields achievable in the
farms of developed as well as other developing countries. Additiona lly, despite these gains in
farm productivity, losses after harvest due to poor infrastructure and unorganised retail cause
India to experience some of the highest food losses in the world.
1. Principal crops of India
9. According to the Indian Statistical Report, 2011, the following are the principal crops of India*.
Crop Crop
group
State with the
highest area
under cultivation
(till 2008-09)
Area (in
thousand
hectares)
State with
highest
production
Yield (in
thousand
tonnes)
Second
highest
yield
Rice Cereals Uttar Pradesh 6034 West Bengal 15037 13097
(UP)
Jowar Cereals Maharashtra 4071 Maharashtra 3587 1629
(KN)
Bajra Cereals Rajasthan 5175 Rajasthan 4283 1302 (UP)
Maize Cereals Karnataka 5175 Andhra
Pradesh
4152 3029
(KN)
Ragi Cereals Karnataka 841 Karnataka 1394 193 (UK)
Small millets Cereals Madhya Pradesh 307 Uttarakhand 89 89 (MP)
Wheat Cereals Uttar Pradesh 9513 Uttar Pradesh 28554 15733
(PJ)
Barley Cereals Rajasthan 287 Rajasthan 878 276 (UP)
Gram Pulses Madhya Pradesh 2841 Madhya
Pradesh
2786 981 (RJ)
Tur Pulses Maharashtra 1009 Maharashtra 605 315 (KN)
Other Pulses Pulses Rajasthan 2394 Uttar Pradesh 1148 830 (RJ)
Groundnut Oilseed Gujarat 1907 Gujarat 2661 1554 (AP)
Sesamum Oilseed Rajasthan 521 Rajasthan 153 133 (WB)
Rapeseed
Oilseed Rajasthan 2388 Rajasthan 3806 874 (UP)
and mustard
Linseed Oilseed Madhya Pradesh 126 Madhya
Pradesh
48 27 (UK)
Castor Oilseed Gujarat 434 Gujarat 852 159 (RJ)
Cotton Others Maharashtra 3107 Gujarat 8787 (000
bales)
4618 (GJ)
Jute Others West Bengal 596 West Bengal 8412 (000
bales)
1253
(BH)
Mesta Others Andhra Pradesh 62 Andhra
Pradesh
544 (000
bales)
137 (BH)
Sugarcane Others Maharashtra 761 Uttar Pradesh 109048 60648
(MH)
10. India has very poor rural roads affecting timely supply of inputs and timely
transfer of outputs from Indian farms, inadequate irrigation systems, crop failures in
some parts of the country because of lack of water while in other parts because of
regional floods, poor seed quality and inefficient farming practices in certain parts of
India, lack of cold storage and harvest spoilage causing over 30 % of farmer's produce
going to waste, lack of organised retail and competing buyers thereby limiting Indian
farmer's ability to sell the surplus and commercial crops. The Indian farmer receives just
10 to 23 % of the price the Indian consumer pays for exactly the same produce, the
difference going to losses, inefficiencies and middlemen traders. Farmers in developed
economies of Europe and the United States, in contrast, receive 64 to 81 % of the price
the local consumer pays for exactly the same produce in their supermarkets.
Even though, India has shown remarkable progress in recent years and has attained
self-sufficiency in food staples, the productivity of Indian farms for the same crop is very
low compared to farms in Brazil, the United States, France and other nations. Indian
wheat farms, for example, produce about a third of wheat per hectare per year in contrast
with wheat farms in France. Similarly, at 44 million hectares, India had the largest farm
area under rice production in 2009; yet, the rice farm productivity in India was less than
half the rice farm productivity in China.
Indian farms are not poor performing for every crop. For some, Indian farms post
11. the best yields. For example, some of India's regions consistently posts some of the
highest yields for sugarcane, cassava and tea crops every year.
Crop yields for some farms within India are within 90 % of the best achieved
yields by farms in developed countries such as the United States and in European Union.
No single state of India is best in every crop. Indian states such as Tamil Nadu achieve
highest yields in rice and sugarcane, Haryana enjoys the highest yields in wheat and
coarse grains, Karnataka does well in cotton, Bihar does well in pulses, while other states
do well in horticulture, aquaculture, flower and fruit plantations.
The low productivity in India is a result of the following factors:
● The average size of land holdings is very small (less than 2 hectares) and is subject to
fragmentation due to land ceiling acts, and in some cases, family disputes. Such small
holdings are often over-manned, resulting in disguised unemployment and low
productivity of labour. Some reports claim smallholder farming may not be cause of poor
productivity, since the productivity is higher in China and many developing economies
even though China smallholder farmers constitute over 97 % of its farming population.
Chinese smallholder farmer is able to rent his land to larger farmers, China's organised
retail and extensive Chinese highways are able to provide the incentive and infrastructure
necessary to its farmers for sharp increases in farm productivity.
● Adoption of modern agricultural practices and use of technology is inadequate, hampered
by ignorance of such practices, high costs and impracticality in the case of small land
holdings.
● According to the World Bank, Indian Branch: Priorities for Agriculture and Rural
Development", India's large agricultural subsidies are hampering productivity-enhancing
investment. Overregulation of agriculture has increased costs, price risks and uncertainty.
Government intervenes in labour, land, and credit markets. India has inadequate
infrastructure and services. World Bank also says that the allocation of water is
inefficient, unsustainable and inequitable. The irrigation infrastructure is
deteriorating.The overuse of water is currently being covered by over pumping aquifers,
but as these are falling by foot of groundwater each year, this is a limited resource.
● Illiteracy, general socio-economic backwardness, slow progress in implementing land
reforms and inadequate or inefficient finance and marketing services for farm produce
12. .
Several organisations have taken steps to promote awarness in agricult
Various measures taken by the central and state governments from time to time, some of
them are:
1. To begin with government took lead in providing various facilities on its own. In course of
time different types of activities were entrusted to specific public agencies.
2. The government abolished the zamindari system. It was followed with the consolidation of
small holdings to make them economically viable.
3. Another important input was the widespread use of radio and television for acquainting
farmers in new and improved techniques of cultivation.
4. The crop insurance was another step to protect the farmers against losses caused by crop
failure on account of natural calamities like drought, flood, hailstorm, cyclone, fire, diseases etc.
5. Easy availability of capital or investment input through a well-knit network of rural banking
and small scale cooperative societies with low interest rates were other facilities provided to the
farmers for modernisation of agriculture.
6. Special weather bulletins for farmers were introduced on radio and television.
7. The government announced minimum support price for various crops removing the elements
of uncertainty. It ensures minimum price for the crop grown by the farmers.