Indian Agriculture

Introduction

Agriculture in India includes not just growing crops but also raising animals, agroforestry (growing trees along with crops), and fishing. It has always been a vital part of the Indian economy. In the past, especially until 1971, about 80% of Indians lived in villages, and most of them depended on farming. At that time, agriculture made up around 45% of India’s total income (GDP).

However, as industries like mining, factories, transport, trade, and services have grown, the share of agriculture in the economy has decreased.

A strong farming sector also supports industries. For example, farmers need tractors, fertilizers, and pesticides—all made by industries. In return, agriculture provides raw materials like cotton and sugarcane to factories. So, farming and industry help each other grow.

Green Revolution and Its Impact

What Was the Green Revolution?

In the 1960s, India faced food shortages. To increase food production, scientists introduced new seeds that gave higher yields, especially for wheat and rice. This movement is known as the Green Revolution. It was inspired by American scientist Norman Borlaug, and in India, Dr. M.S. Swaminathan played a key role.

Main Goals of the Green Revolution

• Short-Term: Solve food shortages and famines.
  
• Long-Term: Modernize farming with better infrastructure and increase rural development.
  
• Create Jobs: Generate employment in farming and related industries.
  
• Stronger Crops: Develop seeds that could resist diseases and bad weather.
  
• Global Impact: Share this technology with other developing countries.
  

Key Features

1. More Land for Farming: Increased the area of cultivated land.
   
2. Double Cropping: Started growing two crops a year using irrigation projects like dams.
   
3. Better Seeds: Used high-yield seeds for wheat, rice, maize, etc.
   
4. Chemical Fertilizers: Used more fertilizers to grow more crops.
   
5. Improved Irrigation: Built new irrigation systems to support farming.
   

Main Crops Grown

Wheat, rice, maize, jowar, and bajra were the main focus. Pulses and oilseeds were mostly ignored.

Green Revolution: Pros and Cons

Positive Effects

• More Food: India’s grain production increased significantly.
  
• Food Security: India became self-reliant and started exporting food.
  
• Farmer Income: Farmers, especially those with big farms, earned more.
  
• Industrial Growth: More demand for farm machines and tools.
  
• Rural Jobs: Jobs increased in farms and industries supporting farming.

Negative Effects

• Limited Crops: Focused mainly on wheat and rice, ignoring pulses and oilseeds.
  
• Regional Inequality: Benefits went mostly to Punjab, Haryana, and western UP.
  
• Chemical Overuse: Harmful to the environment and health.
  
• Water Wastage: Overuse of water led to groundwater depletion.
  
• Soil Damage: Continuous chemical use reduced soil fertility.
  
• Job Loss: Machines replaced manual labor, especially harming poor workers.
  
• Health Problems: Use of toxic chemicals caused serious health issues.

Evergreen Revolution

Why It Was Needed

Though the Green Revolution boosted food production, it also caused long-term problems like:

• Loss of soil quality
  
• Decrease in crop variety
  
• Overuse of water and chemicals
  
• Hunger and malnutrition still continued
  

To fix this, Dr. M.S. Swaminathan introduced the idea of the Evergreen Revolution—a way to grow more food sustainably, without harming the environment.

Goals

• Grow more food with fewer resources.
  
• Use eco-friendly methods.
  
• Mix traditional and modern farming.
  
• Use solar and renewable energy.
  
• Promote organic farming.
  
• Use mobile and internet tech (ICT) to help farmers.

Main Features of the Evergreen Revolution

• More Pulses: Promote protein-rich pulses to fight malnutrition.
  
• Regional Crops: Grow crops suited to local conditions.
  
• Eco-Friendly Farming: Protect nature while improving yields.
  
• Farmer Involvement: Involve farmers in research and planning.
  
• Save Resources: Reduce use of water, chemicals, and land.
  
• Use of Technology: Mobile apps, weather updates, and online markets.
  
• E-Kranti: Government digital platform for farming advice, banking, and crop selling.
  
• GM Crops: Use genetically improved seeds to increase yield and resistance.

NITI Aayog’s Plan for Evergreen Revolution

India’s policy think tank, NITI Aayog, created a 3-year plan to:

• Increase crop yields.
  
• Use unused lands for farming.
  
• Promote contract farming.
  
• Boost fishery and animal farming.
  
• Grow pulses and oilseeds on fallow (unused) rice lands.

Major Crops and Seasons in India

Three Cropping Seasons

Season	Time	Major Crops	Main Regions
Rabi	Oct–June	Wheat, barley, peas, mustard	Punjab, Haryana, UP, etc.
Kharif	June–Oct	Rice, maize, jowar, cotton	Assam, WB, Maharashtra, etc.
Zaid	March–July	Fruits, vegetables, fodder	North and NW India

Types of Crops

1. Food Crops: Rice, wheat, maize, pulses, millets.
   
2. Cash Crops: Cotton, jute, sugarcane, oilseeds.
   
3. Plantation Crops: Tea, coffee, coconut, rubber.
   
4. Horticulture: Fruits like mango, apple, pear, etc.

Details of Major Food Crops

1. Rice

• Needs hot and humid weather with lots of water.
  
• Grown in clay or loamy soil.
  
• Main producers: West Bengal, Punjab, Bihar, etc.
  
• India is the 2nd largest rice producer globally.
  

2. Wheat

• Grows in cool weather; needs moderate rainfall.
  
• Best in fertile loamy/clayey soil.
  
• Major states: UP, Punjab, MP, Haryana.
  

3. Millets

• Can grow in dry and poor soil.
  
• Jowar, bajra, and ragi are the main millets.
  
• Rich in iron, calcium, and fiber.
  
• Grown in Rajasthan, Karnataka, MP.
  

4. Maize

• Needs warm climate and moderate rain.
  
• Used for food and animal fodder.
  
• Major states: Karnataka, Maharashtra, MP.
  

5. Pulses

• Grow in sandy-loam soil with less water.
  
• Include tur, urad, moong, gram, etc.
  
• Important for vegetarians as a protein source.
  
• India is the largest producer and consumer.

Factors Affecting Agriculture

1. Natural: Climate, soil, rainfall, terrain.
   
2. Institutional: Land ownership, land reforms.
   
3. Infrastructure: Roads, irrigation, banks, storage.
   
4. Technology: Seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, machines.

Features of Indian Agriculture

• Large Workforce: Over 60% of Indians work in agriculture.
  
• Monsoon-Based: Rainfall heavily affects yields.
  
• Manual Labor: Many small farms still use hand tools.
  
• Underemployment: Farmers don’t have year-round work.
  
• Small Farms: Due to land division, average farm size is small.
  
• Traditional Methods: Many farmers still use old techniques.
  
• Focus on Food Crops: Most land is used for food crops.
  

Challenges in Indian Agriculture

• Rain Dependence: Production depends on monsoon.
  
• Land Issues: Uneven land ownership and small plots.
  
• Poor Working Conditions: Low wages and unemployment.
  
• Soil Degradation: Overuse has depleted soil nutrients.
  
• Limited Irrigation: Only 1/3 of farmland is irrigated.
  
• Lack of Modern Tools: Most farmers don’t use machines.
  

Importance of Agriculture

• Income Source: A major part of India’s income.
  
• Jobs: Main job provider in rural areas.
  
• Food Supply: Ensures food for the population.
  
• Supports Industry: Provides raw materials like cotton, sugarcane.
  
• Boosts Rural Economy: More farm income means more rural spending.
  
• Trade: Important for both domestic and export markets.
  

Government Revenue: Contributes through taxes and related sectors.