Introduction: Agriculture- Mainstay of India’s Economy:
India is mainly an agricultural country. Agriculture is the oldest human activity; it is the most important economic sector since ancient times. Agriculture brought man out of the forest. In most developing countries agriculture still remains the primary occupation of the people.
1. It is the means of livelihood of almost 70% of the workforce in India.
2. India is an agricultural country, 2/3rd of its population is engaged in agricultural activities.
3. Besides producing food grains, agriculture is also a source for raw materials required for industries.
4. The net sown area in India is about 51%,
5. Provides food to the teeming millions of India.
6. Agriculture along with forests and fisheries forms 45% of our total national income.
7. Agriculture has been a potent factor in promoting industrialization at a global level.
8. Some agricultural products are exported to earn foreign exchange.
9. Cultivation methods have changed significantly; influenced by physical, environmental and technological know-how and socio-cultural practices.
A: Different Types of Farming; they vary from subsistence to commercial types. The types of farming depend on two factors:
a. Physical: relief, climate and location
b. Human: cultural background of people, availability of irrigation & agricultural practices.
B: Farmers all over India practice different types of farming:
| Farming Method | Methods | Crops Grown |
| Primitive Subsistence known as slash and burn. Known as different names all over India and the world(Refer NCERT for names) | · Farmers clear, slash and burn a small piece of land and on it grow crops to sustain themselves. · The entire family or community is utilized as labour force. · Primitive tools like hoes, Dao etc are used. · No fertilizers or manure is used, land productivity is low. · Depends on monsoon, natural fertility of soil and suitability of other envt. Conditions. · As soil fertility decreases, the farmers shift and clear a fresh patch of land. · This gives time to the land to replenish itself. · Fields are irrigated with water running through bamboo canals from the nearby spring, especially in NE India. | · Cereals · Food crops · Tubers like yams, cassava and sweet potatoes. |
| Intensive Subsistence Farming | · Labour intensive farming methods · Uses high doses of biochemical inputs and irrigation. · Very small farm land holdings · It is a consequence of “right of inheritance” which has led to the division of land among successors. The successors are solely dependant on land for their livelihood and hence the pressure .In certain nations, govt. have emphasized the importance of consolidation of landholdings. · Every bit of cultivable land is used. · Where is there is inadequate water irrigation methods are used · Where the land is hilly, terraces are made. · In many areas swamps have been drained for cultivation of paddy. | · Paddy · Sugarcane · Soybean · Sorghum · Wheat · Vegetables |
| Commercial Farming | 1: Capital Intensive farming uses technology- HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides, to obtain high yield. 2: Plantation is a type: single cash crop is grown on a large area. This was introduced by the British. · Cash crops are grown for export market · Grown on very large estates · Migrant labour are employed · Most of the produce is used for raw material for industries and an efficient network of system of communication and transport exists which connects the production areas to industries and markets. | · Wheat · Rice · Tea · Coffee · Rubber · Sugarcane · Banana · Bamboo · jute |
C: Cropping Pattern:
Variations in climate, soil and cultivation practices are responsible for the variety of food and non food crops grown in our country.
I: RABI
1. Sown in winter- October to December, harvested in summer April to June
2. Wheat Barley Peas Gram and Mustard are some important Rabi crops
3. North and north western parts of India are areas where Rabi crops are grown.
4. Punjab, Haryana, Him. Pradesh, J&K, Uttarakhand, & UP are important states concerning wheat production and other Rabi crops.
5. Availability of precipitation during winter months helps in growth of Rabi crops.
6. Green revolution has given impetus to the growth of Rabi crops, especially in Punjab, Haryana western UP and parts of Rajasthan.
II: KHARIF
1. Crops are sown with the onset of monsoon in June, Harvested in September to October.
2. Paddy, Maize, Jowar, Bajra, Tur, Moong, Urad, Cotton, Jute, Groundnut and Soybean are important Kharif crops.
3. Assam, Paschim Bengal, coastal regions of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala & MAH particularly the Konkan Coast, along with UP and Bihar are important rice growing regions.
4. Paddy has, of late, become and important crop of Punjab and Haryana.
5. Assam, PB, and Orissa grow three crops of paddy every year- Aus, Aman, and Boro.
III: ZAID
1. A short season between the rabi and Kharif season
2. Watermelons, muskmelons, tubers, cucumbers, vegetables and fodder.
3. Sugarcane is almost an annual crop.
D: TECHNOLOGICAL AND INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS:
Ø Agriculture ensures food security for the country and produces several raw materials for industries. Agricultural development is a pre-condition of our national prosperity.
Ø When India became a free country there was severe shortage of food grains. The country had to import large quantities of wheat from America, Australia and other countries. To meet this situation, the govt took up many schemes for the interests of the farmers and improvement of agriculture:
1. Agriculture was given top priority in the first five year plan
2. Several schemes for irrigation were undertaken and arid and semi arid areas were brought under cultivation.
3. New and scientific methods of farming were adopted
4. Few HYV seeds were developed
5. Farmers were also encouraged to use manures and
6. A break through was made in the 60’s, cereals like rice, wheat had a record production in Haryana and Punjab, called the green revolution.
Ø Agriculture has been the mainstay of India’s economy for 1000’s of years. Constant use of land without appropriate techno-institutional changes has hindered the pace of agricultural development. Most of the farmers depend on monsoons, natural fertility and seeds, old methods of irrigation-flooding fields/Persian wheel, wooden plough and bullock carts to carry out production. This has a serious consequence as agriculture is the occupation of 70% OF Indians. There is an immediate need for implementing of technical and institutional reforms.
Ø By the 1980’s and 90’s it became clear that a comprehensive land development programme was required which would comprise both institutional and technical reforms. To start with the govt took the initiative by providing various facilities on its own. Hence, the following reforms were implemented:
1. Subsidized Rates: Subsidy on electricity, purchasing seeds and fertilizers to ensure farmers continue to improve agriculture, consolidated and collectivized farms to make them economically viable.
2. Information through Media: widespread use of radio and television for acquainting farmers in new and mp-roved techniques of cultivation. Special weather bulletins for farmers. E.g. Krishi Darshan a programme on DD.
3. Crop Insurance: to protect the farmers against losses caused by crop failure/calamities and they are fully compensated in case of any loss.
4. Better Loan Facilities: various steps were undertaken to provide loans at low rates to the farmers through banks especially Gramin Banks and Cooperative Societies so that the farmers do not fall in the clutches of money lenders
5. Minimum Support Price: to benefit farmers every year, the govt announces the minimum support price for different crops so that they are not exploited by the speculators and middlemen.
6. Remunerative and procurement prices: for important crops to check the exploitation of farmers by the speculators and middlemen.
7. Introduction of Kissan Credit Card and Personal Accident Insurance Schemes: various schemes were introduced by the govt for the benefit of the farmers.
I: Implications of Growing Populations on Indian Farming:
Ø The greatest problem of Indian agriculture is the tremendous population pressure on land. To feed such a huge population every piece of land has been brought under the plough. Forests have been cut and hills terraced, with nearly 250 persons per sq.km. but still the hunger of land has remained insatiable.
Ø To meet the food requirements, we will require about 400 million tones of food grains alone. It will put great strain on our limited financial resources and adversely affect our developmental needs in various other important sectors such as education, health etc. we will not be in a position to increase production because of stagnation in our irrigation potentials.
Ø Increasing the production of food grains, drastic steps will have to be taken to check the rapid growth of our population; otherwise the problem of deficiency of food will persist.
II: Land Under Cultivation Has Been Reduced Day By Day- What Are The Consequences?
Ø The land under cultivation has been reduced as a result of ever increasing demand for housing of the rising population, the expansion of industries and the construction of dams and various multi-purpose projects.
1. There can be food scarcity for our people which can lead to starvation.
2. Many rural people, employed in different agricultural activities, can be rendered unemployed.
3. It is the main source of revenue for the different state govt. if agricultural activities are reduced naturally it will affect the states exchequer.
4. Many industries depend on agriculture for their raw material. If the agricultural prodn is less then many industries will have to reduce their prodn.
III: Initiation Taken By the Govt to Ensure the Increase in Agricultural Production:
Ø Producing sufficient food for India’s growing population became an issue. Certain land reforms were introduced by the govt. to improve the condition of agriculture and also of the farmer, some of which were abolition of zaminadri, collectivization and consolidation of land holdings.
Ø The right to inheritance created small and fragmented land holdings which are economically not viable. This created problems after India became independent. Land reform was the main focus of the First five year plan.
1. Abolition of the Zamindari System: the zamindars were a great curse for the tenants, so the govt. abolished the wretched system. The tenants have been given the proprietary right. To ensure equitable distribution of land, a maximum limit has been put on a piece of land which a farmer can possess.
2. Consolidation of Land Holdings: Formerly a farmer possessed small pieces of land scattered over vast areas. Such land holdings often proved quite uneconomic. So the govt. after much deal of labour consolidated such land holdings and saved the farmers from much trouble.
3. Constructing Major Irrigation Schemes: to provide full irrigation facilities to the farmers, a great many major and minor irrigation schemes have been undertaken.
4. Encouragement to the Use of Manures and Fertilizers: the govt has set up various plants for the manufacture of different manures and fertilizers so that the soil could yield better results.
5. Developing HYV Seeds: the govt has developed HYV Seeds in order to yield more production of various crops particularly wheat.
IV: Indian Agriculture- Declining Trend in Food Production/Present State:
1. Impoverished Soils: Indian soil has been under the plough since 4000-5000 years; therefore, it is fully exhausted or impoverished.
2. Fragmentation and Small Size of the Land Holdings: division of land generations after generations, has led to fragmentation and small size of land-holdings which had become quite uneconomic.
3. Primitive Tools and Implements: when different kind of new tools and implements have been introduced in different parts of the world, primitive tools are being used in many parts of India.
4. Inadequate Credit and Marketing Facilities: not only this, the Indian agriculture also suffers from lack of credit and marketing facilities.
5. Lack of Irrigational Facilities: the vagaries of the monsoon are a great headache for the farmers. Their excess or absence both proves a very disastrous for both.
: IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON INDIAN AGRICULTURE:
Ø Globalization has benefitted Indian agriculture; it might be the result of colonialism and is based on exploitation.
Ø Global and trade rules should be subordinated to national and local govts decision.
Ø Every govt should be given the right to set its own development priorities, protect its own citizens and curb capital fight.
Ø Global trade rules should be subordinated to global environmental agencies in order to maintain ecological balance of developing countries.
Ø Agriculture should be exempted from global trade rules to allow poor countries to pursue their own food security and sustain their farming policy.
E: BHOODAN/GRAMDAN/ BLOODLESS REVOLUTION
1. Started by Vinoba Bhave, a spiritual heir of Mahatma Gandhi, persuaded the dream of “Gram Swaraj”.
2. After Gandhiji’s martyrdom, he undertook a padyatra to spread his message and covered almost entire India to spread his message.
3. Conceived as a institutional and tech. reform. Based on the philosophy of satyagrah, it required rich landowners to give up a part of their in favour of landless cultivation.
4. He delivered lectures to call for “gramdan” by big landlords.
5. In one of those lectures in ‘Pochampali’, AP, the landless labourers asked to give them some land. Since he was not in possession of any at that time, he assured them that he would speak to the govt of India to offer them some land on the basis of cooperative farming.
6. Deeply touched by the truthfulness of Vinobhaji, Ramachandra Reddy stood up and offered 80 acres of land under the ‘Bhoodand Yojna’.
7. Ramachandra also volunteered to spread the message widely.
8. It later became a people’s movement and was termed “Bloodless Revolution”.
F: FOOD SECURITY
Ø MEANS ‘Freedom from Hunger’, being one of the basic needs of people all over the world.
Ø Food supply varies from year to year in India and all over the world.
Ø There are famines and diseases wherever there are food shortages. Millions of people die every year due to starvation.
Ø Objective of Food Security:
1. Overcoming the Effects of Famine: on account of varied climate and physiography, many parts of our country suffer from natural disasters and hazards like floods, drought and other forms of devastation. The states of Bihar, Assam, UP, MAH and GUJ are prone to natural calamities. The coastal areas also face this kind of situation resulting in widespread famine. Therefore one of the main objectives of food security is to overcome this problem.
2. High Incidence of Poverty: a number of people in our country need food security on account of high incidence of poverty. The tribals and those living in remote areas are worst affected by poverty. Availability of food has to be ensured at all costs.
3. Price Check: food security has also the laudable objective of keeping prices in check during situations of emergency, drought etc. by making food grains available at affordable prices, the general price level in respect of all other communities is held in check.
4. Growth: ensures growth in agricultural production and public administration. It acts as an incentive to farmers that they will not suffer even if weather is unfavorable. These farmers continue to participate in the nation’s growth.
I: Programmes of Food Security:
Within the above objectives, the govt of India has designed food security system with three important components:
1. Buffer Stock
2. Public Distribution System & 3.Improving Nutrition Intake
