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Indian Agriculture: An Overview

Senthuran

Agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy for several centuries. The importance of agriculture in Indian economy is prominently evident. Nearly 70 per cent of the population depends on agriculture either directly or indirectly for their living.

According to 1991 Census Report, over 67 per cent of the work force is still engaged in primary sector. However, employment in this sector is not wide spread. In other words, only 0.78 per cent of rural population (or 1.97 per cent of the rural work force) is employed in allied activities, such as, livestock, forestry, etc. Considering India’s wide natural resource potential (sea base, animal stock, etc.) this is a very negligible figure. Thus, there can be found great-untapped employment opportunities for rural work force in the allied sector.

Indian agriculture is characterized by lack of technology, low productivity, under employment, multiplicity of crops, unequal distribution of land, predominance of small farmers, etc.

Indian agricultural crops can be broadly classified into food and cash or commercial crops. In India, selection of crops for farming depends on the nature of soil, climatic conditions prices of crops, size of farms, availability of inputs (seeds, fertilizers and pesticides), availability of irrigation facilities and policies of the Government. The major food crops in India are rice, wheat, bajra, maize, jowar and other pulses and cereals. Important commercial crops of India are sugarcane, groundnut, oil seeds, tea and coffee. India also farms non-food commercial crops like cotton, jute and mesta.

Wheat Production in India

Year	Production in Million Tonnes
1991-92	55.6
1992-93	57.0
1993-94	59.1
1994-95	65
1995-96	62.6
1996-97	68.7
1997-98	66.4

Rice Production in India

Year	Production in Million Tonnes
1991-92	74.7
1992-93	72.9
1993-94	79
1994-95	81
1995-96	79.6
1996-97	80.5
1997-98	83.5

Fertilizer consumption per hectare is very low in India, even when compared to other low-income countries like Indonesia and Bangladesh. Thus, higher consumption of fertilizer has to be induced in the Indian environment to achieve higher value addition in agriculture.

Another major hurdle for the agricultural sector in India is lack of water or proper irrigation policies by the rulers. To improve agricultural production, in a country like India, where net irrigated area (as percentage to net sown area) is only 35.1 per cent, superior water management becomes vital. However, due to political reasons Indian rulers are not able to unify water resources.

India, if need to develop economically, can not ignore agricultural sector. Agricultural productivity for higher food supply has to be improved, which in turn will reduce the cost of food, leading to better standard of living. Giving thrust to agriculture has the following advantages:

v Higher production

v Improved productivity

v Greater employment

v No foreign technology required. Thus, no outflow of capital.

v Will check migration. Thus, lesser urbanization problems.

v Agriculture produces no pollution. Thus, lesser expenses on pollution control.

Further, a thrust to allied rural activities like animal husbandry, fishery, forestry, alternate energy, industries based on rural resources will yield the following benefits:

v Additional income generation

v Generate jobs for the landless labourers

v Better nutrition to the masses

v Low gestation, high income vocation

v No pollution

v Added energy supply

v Reduce migration

v No overseas technology required