Agriculture in India Essay

Since long ago, agriculture has been associated with the production of basic viands plays. At present agriculture, besides nation includes forestry, fruit cultivation, dairy, poultry, mushroom, bee keeping, arbitrary, etc. Today, commercializeing, processing, statistical distribution of agricultural products etc. atomic number 18 all accepted as a part of modern agriculture. Agriculture plays a crucial role in the life of an economy. It is the backb ane of our economic system. The following facts clearly noblelight the magnificence of INDIA. 1. Source of LivelihoodIn India the main occupation of our working volume is agriculture. About 70 per cent of our population is directly engaged in agriculture. 2. Contribution to National IncomeAgriculture is the premier source of our national income. check to National Income Committee, in- 1960-61, 52% national income was contributed.see muchnon gardening activities in indian villages1976-77, contributed 42.2 per cent1981-82, its contribution was 41.8 per cent.2001-02, it contributed around 32.4 per cent2006-07, 22%2012-13, 13.7%3. Supply of Food and FodderAgriculture orbit also provides diet for kick the bucketstock. Moreover, it also meets the nutrition requirements of the people. 4. Importance in International Trade artless products comparable tea, sugar, rice, tobacco, spices etc. constitute the main items of exports of India. 6. Source of Raw stuffAgriculture has been the source of raw materials to the leading industries like cotton and jute textiles, sugar, tobacco, comestible and non-edible oils etc. All these depend directly on agriculture.9. Vast concern OpportunitiesWith the fast growing population and high school incidence of unemployment the agricultural sector is significant as it provides greater employment opportunities in the construction of irrigation externalises, drain systemand other much(prenominal) activities. 13. Basis of Economic DevelopmentThe information of agriculture provides necessary capital for the development of other sectors like industry, entrance and foreign trade. TYPES OF farmingPRIMITIVE FARMINGIt is also commonly cal lead byzant and burn agriculture. It is impinge on use ofd in argonas where Soil has low nutritive levels. An bea for cultivation is selected and then it is burned so that the required nutrients for the crop to grow are maintained and biomass is converted to useful inorganic ash. frankincensely nth chosen crops are sown. Then the shoot is given a period of rest called fallow. Then the same process continues until the land is wearied of nutrients(i.e. about 5-6 yrs). This pillow slip of farming usually depends on the type of soil, rain and closely importantly climatic conditions. It is done using natural tools like hoe, hull, dagger, dao, etc. and requires a lot of labour. much(prenominal) crops are non produced in a swelled quantity and farmers grow crops only to catch their family with little or no intent ion of selling them. The famer does not use chemical fertilizers or modern inputs, thus the production is low. TRADITIONAL FARMINGTraditional farming represents the original method of farming. This type of farming uses encompassing local knowledge and natural resources so that no harm is ca utilise to biodiversity. Such farmers maintain soil fertility and prevent erosion of topsoil. There are many methods of traditional farming namely- Nomadic PastoralismIt is the practice of facelift domesticated animals like goat, sheep, cattle, etc. All humans practicing this method live off entirely on animal products like fat, meat, milk, etc. These people are constantly in use of new grounds for their animals to feed. blend Sustenance FarmingThis can provide a very invariable farming platform, where plants and animals work together to support each other. The plant rot that cannot be used by humans is used as cannon fodder for animals and their waste acts as natural manure. This type of f arming is usually the most productive and sustainable compared to any other type. COMMERCIAL FARMINGIt is a type of large-scale farming of crops to sell them to wholesalers or retailers. Crops such as wheat, maize, rice, tea, etc. are harvested and sold worldwide in international markets. imputable to its extensive nature modern machines and use of chemical fertilizers is required thus increasing the capital. Due to its large capital, it is mainly practiced by large companies or abundant farmers. Yield as well as dinero is high collect to the use of modern techniques and hybrid varieties of seeds. Commercial farming started with the advent of the Green Revolution and production in India increased by 50% during the age 1970-1990. In todays world crossway is very important to increase the yield of crops. Many varieties of hybrid seeds are now obtainable which are disease resistant, healthier and give more than yields.FIVE YEAR PLANSFirst Plan (1951-1956)The First Five-year Plan was launched in 1951 which mainly focused in development of the agricultural. The total planned cipher of Rs.2069 crore was allocated to seven areas irrigation and energy (27.2%), agriculture17.4%), transport and communications (24%), industry (8.4%), social operate (16.40%), land rehabilitation (4.1%), and for other sectors (2.5%). The monsoon was good and there were relatively high crop yields.Second Plan (1956-1961)The Second Plan evince on the development of the sector. Hydroelectric projects and vanadium steel plants at Bhilai, Durgapur, and Rourkela were established. The total beat allocated under the Second Five-Year Plan in India was Rs.48 billion. This amount was allocated among various sectors force and irrigation, social services, communications and transport, and very less amount was allocated towards agriculture referable to the other increasing problems.Third Plan (19611966)The Third Five-year Plan stressed on agriculture and improvement in the production of wh eat, but the Sino-Indian contend of 1962 led to weakness in theeconomy and the plan stressed on the defense industry of India although equal priority was given to agriculture and industrial sector. PROBLEMS FACEDThe major problems confronted by the Indian agriculture are as follows (a) Population PressureIndia has a huge population of over one billion and it is increasing at a very fast rate. match to 2012census figures the overall density of population is 3264 persons per sq. km. Every bit of land has been used up for construction of commercial sites. (b) Small and Fragmented Land HoldingsDividing a vitiated plot of land due to increasing population has resulted in a small piece of land getting fragmented further. The small size of such holdings makes farming activity uneconomical and leads to less productivity and eventually less income. (c) In tolerable Irrigation FacilitiesIn India irrigation facilities are not adequate at all. Almost all fields, owned by poor farmers, are l eft to get naturally irrigated by the monsoons(except those owned by rich farmers and companies). (d) Depleted SoilsFarming has been a tradition of India for over 1000 years which has resulted in the decrease in fertility of soil and deforestation has led to erosion of the fertile soil giving less productivity. (e) Storage of food grainsStorage of abundant food grains is a huge problem approach by Indians. Almost 10-12% of our harvest of food grains goes waste due to no proper storage. (f) Farm ImplementsIn some parts of the country automation of farming has interpreted place, but most of the farmers are poor and cannot endure to purchase and use modern tools. This hampers agriculture.Forests-86.1Non agriculture-21.8barren/Uncultivable-20.1Permanent pasture/grazing-12Fallow-24..Cropped area-142.5(Food grain-123.5 Rainfed-89) triplex croppingIn agriculture, multiple cropping is the practice of growing two or more crops in the same field during a single sowing season. There are man y types of multiple cropping schemes that the government has introduced in India. They are- Double-cropping, in which a entropy crop is planted after the first has been harvested. This helps in restoring the nutrients that come been used up by the plant. Relay cropping, in which a second crop is started amidst the first crop before it has been harvested. This ensures bountiful harvest as well as keeps crops healthy. Intercropping, where an additional crop is planted in the spaces available between the main crop. This helps in keeping away pests.AGRICULTURAL gentilityIntensive agriculture area program(1964)The main objective of the IAAP was that greater tenseness should be given to scientific agriculture in an intensive vogue in areas with high production potentials. The emphasis was on important crops such as Wheat, Rice, cotton, etc. High yielding variety program(1966)The main originator of the program was to increase the productivity of food grains by adopting new high yiel ding varieties of improved seeds. The HYVP introduced -High-yielding varieties of seeds, increased use of fertilizers, increased irrigation. These three are collectively known as the Green Revolution. National agricultural variety project(2006)The NAIP is contributing to the transformation of the agricultural sector to more of a market to get rid of poverty and improve income. The main aim is to make people aware about how agriculture can be taken to an international level through technological innovations.SOIL AND WATER savingWATERSome Major River valley protrudesBhakra Nangal ProjectOn Sutlej in Punjab. Highest in India.Ht. 226m. Reservoir is called Gobind Sagar Lake. Chambal Valley ProjectOn Chambal in MP & Rajasthan, 3 dams are there- Gandhi Sagar Dam, Rana Pratap Sagar Dam and Jawahar Sagar Dam Damodar Valley ProjectOn Damodar in Bihar, Based on Tennessee Valley Project USAHirakud ProjectOn Mahanadi in Orrisa, Worlds all-night Dam 4801mKosi ProjectOn Kosi in N.BiharTugabha dra ProjectOn Tugabhadra in Andhra Pradesh & KarnatakaSardar Sarovar ProjectOn Narmada, Gujarat/MP.Due to the magnitude of floods in 1978, a project of flood prone rivers was started to prevent further casualties. SOILDuring the 7th five year plan, the government decided to take careful measures towards soil conservation. The scheme of reclamation of foundation soil in Punjab, Haryana, and U.P. took place. During the 9th plan this scheme was O.K. and being practiced in all states. It aimed at improving conditions of alkali soils for better production of crops. GREEN REVOLUTIONWell-known agronomist, Dr. M S Swaminathan led the Green Revolution in India. India was in the middle of a food crisis in the mid 60s. The food economy was falling imbibe very fast. The domestic production of wheat had gone down to about only 12 million tons(from 23 million tons) due to inflation. About the same had to be imported from the US.The introduction of high-yielding varieties of wheat like Lerma Ro jo and Sonora 64 during the mid-60s with farm technology and chemical fertilizers brought about the squirt revolution.