India's journey in agriculture and the vision for the future

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Our journey in agriculture and its vision for the
future
Submitted to:
Dr. S.K. Thakral
Submittedby:
SUMIT (2018A107BIV)
VATSAL ARORA (2018A110BIV)
SOURABH BOORA (2018105BIV)
TARUN (2018A109BIV)
VIJAY (2018A111BIV)
VIKAS SUTHAR (2018A112BIV)
SIMRAN (2018A102BIV)
SAVIN(2018A101BIV)

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Agriculture plays a vital role in the Indian economy. Over 70 per cent of the rural households depend on
agriculture. Agriculture is an important sector of Indian economy as it contributes about 17% to the total
GDP and provides employment to over 60% of the population. Indian agriculture has registered
impressive growth over last few decades.
But to understand the current position of agriculture,we must study its origins.
Indian agriculture began as early as 8000 BC.(neolithic revolution) The domestication of plants
and animals are reported in the subcontinent by 9000 BC. Wheat, barley and jujube(Ziziphus
zizyphus) were among crops,
Sheep and goats were among animals that were domesticated. This period also saw the first
domestication of the elephants.
This transformation of knowledge from one generation to another was the base of further
development of agriculture in India.
Agricultural communities became widespread in Kashmir valley around 5000 BC. It was
reported that Cotton was cultivated by 5000 – 4000 BC in Kashmir.
As early as 4530 BC and 5440 BC wild Oryza rice appeared in the Belan and Ganges valley
regions of northern India. At that time hemp (Cannabis sativa) was also domesticated and its
application was in number of things including making narcotics, fibre and oil.
Indus valley civilisation: It started around 2500BC in south Asia. Sophisticated
irrigation and water storage systems were developed by the Indus Valley Civilization, including
artificial reservoirs at Girnar dated to 2400 BCE, . Archeological evidence of an animal drawn
plough dates back to 2500 BC in the Indus Valley Civilization.
The land was very fertile due to flooding from Indus river.
The main crops grown were wheat,barley,cotton,sesame(Sesamum indicum) seeds and pea.The
authorities had proper silos and granaries from storing the grains.
Animals like dogs,buffaloes,camels,horses etc were domesticated for brute force,hunting and
farming techniques.

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In the later vedic texts(1000-500 BC),there are repeated references to iron. Cultivation of a wide
range of cereals, vegetables, and fruits is described. Meat and milk products were part of the diet;
animal husbandry was important.
The soil was plowed several times.Seeds were broadcast. Fallowing and a certain sequence of
cropping were recommended and cow dung provided the manure.
Many diplomats of different countries have also recorded information about agriculture in India
One such Greek diplomat-Megasthenes(300 BC) wrote-"India has many huge mountains which
abound in fruit trees of every kind, and many vast plains of great fertility......the soil bears two
crops in the course of the year......in addition to cereals,there grows throughout india much
millet,rice and what is called bosporum[indian millet]” in his book "Indika”

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Recent Developments (1800 to 1st century BC)
• Early Aryans (bronze-age): About 1800-1600 BC, the Aryans left their homeland in
South Russia in the steppes and dispersed east and west. Horse, used for riding, racing,
Chariot, ploughing etc. was the characteristic domesticated animal of the Aryans. They
depended on wheat, barley, millets, pulses, sesame, mustard and animal husbandry.
• Vedic Age (1500-1000 BC): In India, the Aryans occupied Kashmir, Punjab and parts of
Sindh and Rajasthan by conquering the inhabitants (Dasyu and Dasas) and treated them
as Shudras. The man behind the plough was looked upon as a dull individual, not a fit
company for the members of the upper class. The profession of farming was regarded as
fit only for the unlearned and those devoid of wisdom. It remained so for centuries
The later Vedic period (1000-600 BC): From about I000 BC, use of iron spread from
Balochistan, Gandhara to eastern Punjab, western Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. It reached
eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar by 7 century BC. Invention of iron axe helped in clearing forests
at a faster rate for cultivation. When the wooden plough were provided with the iron
ploughshares, their efficiency further improved. This improvement helped the Aryans to
cultivate the virgin land, thus leading to greater mastery over food production.

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Buddhist period : (6th century BC) : Forests were cleared and colonized under the patronage of
ruiling monarchs in Eastern UP and Bihar during this period .
The rural economy of India at the corning of Buddhism was based chiefly on a system of village
communities of peasant proprietors. There were nolandlords. The king had a right to a tithe on
raw produce collected as a yearly tax and only to this extent, could he be considered the ultimate
owner of the land. The tithe on produce was levied in kind, measured out either by the village
headman me or by an official at the barn door or by survey of the crops. The amount levied
varied from 1/6 to 1/12t of the produce; according to decision of the ruling power or other
circumstances. Majority of the holdings were small, manageable single-handed or with the
family members. The pursuit of agriculture was not associated with either social prestige or
social stigma. Brahmins were found pursuing tillage, cow herding, goat keeping, trade,
woodwork, weaving, archery and carriage driving. The hired labour apparently was assigned a
low social rank.
Magadhan Empire (4th Century BC): Magadhan Government had a well organized revenue
administration, bureaucracy, army and police. There were superintendents for various
departments. In his Arthashashtra, Kautilya, thus, enumerates the qualifications and duties of
superintendent of agriculture. "Possessed of the knowledge of science of agriculture dealing with
plantation of bushes and trees or assisted by those who are trained in such sciences, the
superintendent of agriculture shall in time collect the seeds of all kinds of grains, flowers, fruits,
vegetables, bulbous roots, fiber-producing plants and cotton. He shall employ slaves, labour and
prisoners to sow the seed on crown lands Which have been often and satisfactorily ploughed."
King was the biggest landowner. LandLand farming directly under the crown supervision was
called Sita lands. The state derived substantial income from these lands, which were settled with
Shudras who gave one-fourth of the produce to the state warehouse. Formation of villages started
during this period. How the villages were settled is described in Arthashashtra.

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The Ashoka Period (274-237 BC): Ashoka actively promoted arboriculture (forestry) and
horticulture. He encouraged planting of trees in gardens and along roads in the form of avenues.
Buddhism propagated agriculture and love for tree gardens.
Medievel Period
Period of the Satavahanas (1 Century BC to 20 Century AD): During this period, where north
India was ruled by the Indo-Greeks, followed by Kushans, the Deccan was ruled by Brahman
dynasty of Satavahanas (Andhras). They made land grants to Brahmans who o first brought
plough agriculture to replace slash and burn cultivation. Knowledge of distant markets,
organization of village settlements and trade also came with them. As a result, king or kings to
be invited Brahmins from the distant Gangetic basin, to settle in unopened localities.
Age of the Guptas: This period is called Golden Age of India. The striking development of the
Gupta period was the emergence of the Brahman landlords at the cost of localpeasants. These
landlords were imposed from above on the local tribal peasants who were reduced to a lower
status.
In central and western India, the peasants were also subjected to forced labour. Vaharamira
Brhatsambhita provides information on agriculture besides other sciences. Agnipurana deals
with selection of land, manuring, cultivation, seed collection, sowing, planting and grafting. The
Amarakosha of Amarasimha cntains information on soil, tillage, irrigation and agricultural
implements. The Amarakosha descries twelve types of lands in its chapter on Bhumivarga,
depending upon the fertility of the soil, physical characteristics and irrigation.
Empire of the Harshavardhana (606-647 AD): At the close of 6 century, four kingdoms arose
in India out of the ruins of Gupta Empire. Harshavardhan became the king of Kanauj.
The Muslim Rule (1206-1761 AD): Mohammedan elite considered agriculture as an
insignificant activity and those who practiced it as persons of little significance. However, a few
rulers like Firoz Shaw Tughlak, Sher Shah Suri and Akbar were sympathetic towards tillers of
the land.
Sultan Ala-ud-din followed a deliberate policy to impoverish Hindu peasants to make them
submissive and obedient. Net result of his policy was universal poverty and degradation among
the peasantry who were mostly Hindus living in rural areas. Firoz Shaw Tughlak constructed the
Western Yamuna canal in 1355 AD to provide water to the newly constructed cities of Hissar
and Safidon.
Land management was particularly strong during the regime of Akbar the Great (reign: 1556-
1605), under whom scholar-bureaucrat Todarmal formulated and implemented elaborated
methods for agricultural management on a rational basis. Indian crops—such as cotton, sugar,
and citric fruits—spread visibly throughout North Africa, Islamic Spain, and the Middle East.

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Condition of the peasants, however, was miserable with limited resources. Their holdings were
small with primitive tools. There was no evidence that they could accumulate capital to make
improvements on their land holdings. During Shah Jahan period, Western Yamuna canal was
dug and during Firoz Shah period, it was renovated. Condition of peasantry became
progressively were miserable from Akbar to Aurangzeb as the tax burden increased and the
bottled-up discontent erupted in a series of revolts.
Modern History period
In the first century(Grand Anicut) Kallanai Dam built on river kaveri is considered one of the
oldest water regulation structrues in the woirld still in use

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Spice trade involving spices native to India—including cinnamon and black pepper— gained
momentum as India starts shipping spices to the Mediterranean. Roman trade with India
followed as detailed by the archaeological record and the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea.
Chinese documents confirm at least two missions to India, initiated in 647 CE, for obtaining
technology for sugarrefining. Each mission returned with results on refining sugar.
Indian spice exports find mention in the works of Ibn Khurdadhbeh (850), al-Ghafiqi (1150),
Ishak bin Imaran (907) and Al Kalkashandi (fourteenth century).
Introduced by the Portuguese, cultivation of tobacco spread rapidly. The Malabār Coast was the
home of spices, especially black pepper, that had stimulated the first European adventures in the
East.
Coffee had been imported from Abyssinia and became a popular beverage in aristocratic circles
by the end of the century. Tea, which was to become the common man's drink and a major
export, was yet undiscovered, though it was growing wild in the hills of Assam. Vegetables were
45 cultivated mainly in the vicinity of towns.
New species of fruit, such as the pineapple, papaya, and cashew nut, also were introduced by the
Portuguese. The quality of mango and citrus fruits was greatly improved.
Colonial British Era (1757–1947 CE)
In 1857 a Rampur canal on river Sutlej was constructed and a number of irrigation canals are
located on the Sutlej river. Few Indian commercial crops—such as Cotton, indigo, opium, and
rice—made it to the global market under the British Raj in India.
The second half of the 19th century saw some increase in land under cultivation and agricultural
production expanded at an average rate of about 1 percent per year by the later 19th century. Due
to extensive irrigation by canal networks Punjab, Narmada valley, and Andhra Pradesh became
centers of agrarian reforms
Agricultural performance in the interwar period (1918–1939) was dismal. From 1891 to 1946,
the annual growth rate of all crop output was 0.4 percent, and food-grain output was practically
stagnant.In the interwar period, population growth accelerated while food output decelerated,
leading to declining availability of food per head.
The British regime in India did supply the irrigation works but rarely on the scale required.
Agricultural prices of some commodities rose to about three times between 1870-1920. A rich
source of the state of Indian agriculture in the early British era is a report prepared by a British
engineer, Thomas Barnard, and his Indian guide, Raja Chengalvaraya Mudaliar, around 1774.
Agriculture in Independent India (1947 CE onwards)

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Agriculture in India was based mainly on feudal land relations where a majority of the
population lived in rural areas, contended with low productivity, and had only primitive
technology. The new democratic government had a huge task when attempting to integrate the
country and provide sufficient employment as well as food and fiber to the hungry population.
The government of India designed five-year plans to tackle massive problems related to all
sectors of the economy.
The Indian Planning Commission specified the various programmes for increasing agricultural
production such as irrigation, soil conservation, dry farming and land reclamation, supply of
fertilizers and manures, better ploughs and improved agricultural implements, adoption of
scientific practices, etc.
The Government gave considerable attention to institutional changes such as the setting up of
community 54 development programmes and agricultural expansion of transportation, power,
marketing and other basic facilities, improvement of the system of co-operative credit, etc.
From the Third Plan onwards, the greatest emphasis was laid on irrigation, fertilizer, seed
technology which led to green revolution.
First 5 year plan: The First Plan aimed at solving the food crisis India was facing at that
time and ease the critical agricultural raw material situation, particularly the acute shortage of
raw cotton and raw jute.
The chief objective of First 5-Year Plan was to restore the disequilibrium created by the Second
World War and the Partition. The Partition of the country resulted in a transfer of the fertile
wheat areas of the Punjab and rice areas of Bengal to Pakistan. Pakistan also benefited by getting
the long-stapled cotton and jute-growing areas. And a relatively much large acreage of the
irrigated area.
To overcome these short-falls, the First 5-Year Plan gave a predominant importance to the
development of agriculture and irrigation out of a total actual investment of Rs. 1960 crores
made in the first plan. Rs. 601 crores i.e. 31% was allocated for agriculture.
The realization of targets in the plan was due not only to these changes but also the weather gods
and as a result of planning.Thus the increase in farm output during the First Plan helped to end
inflation, stabilized the economy and paved the way for a higher rate of development during the
second plan.
Second 5 year planTo lay the foundations of industrialization and secure equal
opportunities for all, particularly for the weaker sections of the people in the country. Out of total
outlay of Rs. 4,600 crores during the Second Plan, a sum of Rs. 950 crores or about 20% was
spent on agriculture.There was, however, a shortfall in the production of all groups of
commodities, as against the target fixed.

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The poor development of agriculture during Second Plan led to a good number of difficulties in
the Indian economy. The most important effect was the rise in the price level. During this Plan,
the wholesale price index of all commodities increased by 35%.
Third to Fifth Plans (1961-79)
It was during the Third Plan that the Government introduced the new agricultural technology
known as Intensive Agricultural District Programme of using improved seeds, viz., High
Yielding Varieties Programme (HYVP). The new agricultural technology was expected to usher
in the green revolution. However, as a result of the extensive and serious drought conditions in
1965-66, agricultural production was adversely affected.
The actual output at the end of the Third Plan in the case of food grains, oilseeds and raw cotton
was lower than the output at the end of the Second Plan, indicating that the Third Plan was a
wash-out, as far as agriculture was concerned. As the consequence of the shortfall in food
production and serious famine conditions in many parts of the country, the Government was
forced to import food grains extensively during the last of the third plan.
Accordingly, the Planning Commission assigned high priority to agriculture in the successive
plans.
Fourth five year planEmphasized the necessity to create favourable economic
conditions for the promotion of agriculture and a systematic effort to extend the application of
science and technology to improve agricultural practices. However, none of the targets fixed in
agriculture in Fourth Plan was realized.
For example, the target for food grains was 129 million 57 tonnes for 1973-74 but the actual
production in that year was only 104 million tones the highest level of production was 108
million in 1970-71.
The Fifth Plan (1974-79) was prepared with great care, outlay on agriculture would be Rs. 8,740
crores (which was 22% of the total Plan outlay). The targets for production of various crops and
necessary inputs to achieve these targets were also clearly set. Unfortunately, all the financial
calculations went wrong because of the serious inflationary situation during 1973-74. The Fifth
Plan period also witnessed the declaration of emergency (1975). Even though agricultural
progress was steady and plan targets were being realized,
The Sixth Plan (1980-85)It was hailed as a great success, particularly because of the
success on the agricultural front. As against the annual growth rate of 3.8 for agriculture, the
actual growth rate was 4.3%.
The production of food grains in 1983-84 was 154 million tonnes (against the target of 154
million tonnes) and was hailed by the Indian Government as the second green revolution. While
the First Green Revolution from 1967-68 arose from the introduction of new high yielding
varieties of Mexican Wheat and dwarf rice varieties, the Second Green Revolution from 1983-84

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was said to be from expansion in supplies of inputs and services to farmers, agricultural
extension and better management.
While the First Green Revolution was confined mainly to Punjab, Haryana and Western U.P., the
Second Green Revolution had spread to eastern and central states including West Bengal, Bihar,
Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Eastern U.P. These states had made tremendous progress in recent
years.
The Seventh Plan (1985-90) and the Eighth Plan (1992-97) laid emphasis on specific
projects in the field of agriculture They included a special rice production programme for rain
fed agriculture, national oilseeds development project, social forestry, etc. The Seventh Plan was
not successful in the sense that the targets fixed for various sectors (except cotton) were not
achieved. However, the level of production at the end of the Seventh Plan was much higher than
the beginning of the Seventh Plan.
The Eighth Plan (1992-97) was basically sound in its approach in the strategy of development
and in the targets of agricultural crops. Fortunately, weather and climate conditions were
favourable and broadly many of the targets could be fulfilled. For instance, the actual outputs
in1996-97 of oil seeds, of sugarcane, of cotton and of jute were higher than the targets for these
crops in the Eighth Plan.
The only exception
was food grains the
Eighth Plan target
was 210 million
tones but the actual
production was 199
million tonnes. In
fact, the production
of food Grains at 199
million tonnes was
the highest output
registered by India
till the date. The
Ninth Plan (1997-
2002) treated more
elaborately in the
next section was not
much of a success, as
far as the agricultural
targets were
concerned. For
instance, the Ninth
Plan fixed the target
of food grains

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production at 234 million tonnes in 2001-02; but the actual production was only 212 million
tones.
India’s Rainbow Revolution concept is a combination of Green Revolution, White Revolution,
Blue Revolution, Yellow Revolution and Brown Revolution. It was after these revolutions, the
Indian agriculture slowly shifted from traditional behaviour to scientific behaviour.
Green Revolution The introduction of high-yielding varieties of seeds after 1965 and the
increased use of fertilizers and irrigation are known collectively as the Green Revolution, which
provided the increase in production needed to make India selfsufficient in food grains, thus
improving agriculture in India.
The eighth plan aimed at making high-yielding varieties available to the whole country and
developing more productive strains of other crops The map no.2 shows the total food grain
cultivation in India. From the map we see that the foodgrains such as wheat and rice are majorly
cultivated in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh for
wheat and Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Karnatak and Kerala for rice. We see a crowded
foodgrain cultivation of Bajra, Jowar and Maize in the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka. 61
Figure no. 2.2 Agricultural Map of India (Food crops)
In the Tenth Plan (2002-2007) focus is placed on
(i) sustainable management of water and landresources,
(ii) development of rural infrastructure to support agri-culture,
(iii) dissemination ofagriculture technology,
(iv) credit flow to agriculture sector, and
(v) agricultural marketing reforms.
The Eleventh Plan
1. The investment rate has been proposed to be raised to 36.7 percent from 30.8 percent in the
previous plan.
2. The draft document has envisaged a savings rate of 34.8 percent, which is substantially higher
than 30.8 percent recorded in the Tenth Plan.
3. The major thrust of the plan will be on social sector, including agriculture and rural
development.
4. Important targets include reducing poverty by 10 percentage points, generating 7 crore new
employment opportunities and ensuring electricity connection to all villages.

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5. More investment on infrastructure sector including irrigation, drinking water and sewage from
5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2005-06 to 9 percent by 2011-12.
(2012-17)
Agriculture sector grew by an average 1.6 per cent per annum in first four years of the ongoing
Five Year Plan (2012-17) as against the targeted 4 per cent annual growth due to lower
production.
set back in the annual crop production except for 2013-14 due to deficiency in the monsoon
rainfall, moisture stress and unfavourable weather, temperature conditions adversely impacting
production of Kharif and rabi crops
India’s recent performance in agriculture has been favorable. With agricultural
productiongrowing over the past 30 years, India has stepped into the ranks of the top ﬁve
countries in keyagriculture products: wheat, rice, cattle, eggs, vegetables, and melons. It has
become the world’sleading producer of milk and pulses.
And it has been a net exporter of agriculture productsevery year since 1990–91.
Smallholder farmers are shifting toward high-value outputs. Agricultureinvestment as a share of
agriculture GDP rose from 13 percent in 2004–05 to over 18 percent in2008–09; private
investment increased signiﬁcantly even while public investment was stagnant;and the
private sector has moved into agricultural research and extension services.
Retail in foodproducts is modernizing rapidly. Yet there is widespread consensus that, relative to
the rest of the economy, agriculture is lagging and that it can and must do much better to
support India’s overall high economic growthand dynamism.
VISIONS FOR FUTURE
 Vision 2020: The two Mantras
1. Effective implementation with people’s participation
2. Effective communication for people’s participation
Key element: To provide urban amenities in rural areas.(PURA)
Main Objective: Conservation and sustainable utilization of our bio resources.
 Vision2030:
o Ensure food and income security for all, through technological innovations and
sustainable agriculture
o Focus Areas: Improve human resource capacity by involving stakeholders
o Develop and facilitate gradual replacement of pesticides
o Reform agricultural education and extension system
o Improve knowledge management system to act as an efficient clearing house of
technology, knowledge and information in agriculture and allied sectors.

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 Vision 2050:
o Promote economic opportunities for rural community
o Support higher education and create educational environment
o Ensure advantage to Indian agriculture
o Focus Areas:
1. Genetic potential enhancement
2. Resilience to climate change and abiotic
and biotic stress
3. Evaluation of ecosystem services
o New products and usage like bioenergy, new crops ,synthetic foods
References:
Roy, T. (2006), "Agricultural Prices and Production, 1757–1947",
Encyclopedia of India (vol. 1) edited by Stanley Wolpert
Source :-Indian Economy,Agriculture report 1951-2001
https://agricultureinasia.weebly.com/early-modern.html
https://www.environmentalscience.org/history-agriculture
http://www.agrimoon.com/agriculture-icar-ecourse-pdf-book/
www.fao.org
www.mospi.nic.in/sites/default/files/Statistical_year_book_india.

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