BBA/PGDAE

ROLE and
IMPORTANCE
Agriculture in India

Indian Agriculture has made rapid strides since

independence
From food shortages and import to selfsufficiency and exports.
From subsistence farming to intensive and
technology led cultivation.
Today , India is the front ranking producer of
many crops in the world.
Ushered in through the green, white, blue and
yellow revolutions

Indian Agriculture- Some Facts

Total Geographical Area - 328 million hectares

Net Area sown - 142 million hectares
Gross Cropped Area 190.8 million hectares
Major Crop Production (2008-2009)
Rice 99 million tonnes
Wheat
78 million tonnes
Coarse Cereals
41 million tonnes
Pulses
14 million tonnes
Potato
28 million tonnes
Oilseeds
28 million tonnes
Sugarcane 289 million tonnes
Cotton
23 million bales
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Indian Agriculture- Some Facts

Contributes to 17% of GDP in 2008-09 as against

24.7% in 2000-01 and 34% in 1991.
Provides food to 1.2 Billion people
Sustains 59 % of the population: 27% of them are
agricultural labourers and 32% cultivators (Data 2001)
Produces 51 major Crops
Provides Raw Material to Industries
Contributes to 1/8th of the export earnings, roughly
12.23% in 2008-09 as against 20% in 1996-97
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Indian Agriculture- Some Facts

In the last 6 decades the growth of Indian agriculture has
never crossed 4% mark, the highest being 3.9% during
1981-1991.
Per capita yield of all food grains and commercial crops
has improved- led by cotton, potato and wheat. The
lowest being pulses
In comparison to countries with highest yield, India has
to make a quantum jump!
If we study region wise growth, there is highly
unbalanced development in Indian agricultural.
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Major Achievements
India is
Largest producer in the world of spices, pulses , tea , and milk
Second Largest producer of fruits, vegetables, wheat , rice,
groundnut and sugarcane.
Third largest in oilseed production.
Provides raw material to thousand of industries

IndianAgriculture Scenario
STRENGTHS

WEAKNESS

Rich Bio-diversity
Arable land
Climate
Strong and well dispersed
research and extension system

OPPORTUNITIES

Bridgeable yield crops

Exports
Agro-based Industry
Horticulture
Untapped potential in the N.E.

Fragmentation of land
Low Technology Inputs
Unsustainable Water Management
Poor Infrastructure
Low value addition

THREATS

Unsustainable Resource Use

Unsustainable Regional
Development
Imports

Current Concerns

Pressure of the Population on Land

Skewed distribution of operational holdings
Land Degradation
Water Balance
Low level of mechanization
Low Fertilizer Consumption

The First Ever National Agriculture Policy was

announced in July 2000. The Policy seeks to overcome
these constraints and achieve
A Growth rate in excess of 4 percent per annum in the
agriculture sector.
Growth that is based on efficient use of resources,
and conserves our soil, water , and bio diversity.
Growth with equity, i.e. growth which is widespread
across regions, and different classes of farmers.
Growth that is demand driven and stabilizes domestic
markets and maximizes benefits from exports in the
face of Global Challenges.
Growth that is sustainable ,technologically ,
environmentally, and economically.
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The Policy has indicated a nine-fold package of policy

initiatives to achieve the objectives

Development of Sustainable agriculture

Food and Nutritional security
Generation and Transfer of Technology
Improvement of input efficiency
Provision of incentives for agriculture
Promotion of Investments in agriculture
Strengthening of institutional infrastructure
Better risk management
Introduction of Management Reforms
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TARGETS

Food Grain Production will be doubled in ten years, so as to

make India hunger free .
Special emphasis will be on horticulture production in order to
achieve a quantum increase.
Allied sectors like live stock, dairy poultry, fisheries, will be
promoted
Production of oilseeds and pulses will be raised substantially.

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Strategies & Initiatives : Enhancing Value Addition

- 98% of fruits and vegetables are sold as fresh products.
- processing accounts for only 7% of agricultural value.
- wastage levels are extremely high.
Improved post harvest interventions: price support
mechanism, grading, handling, storage, packaging,
marketing, processing.
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Strategies & Initiatives : Enhancing Value Addition

Draft National Policy on Food Processing prepared.

Draft Processed Food Development Act formulated.
Package of promotional schemes available for
infrastructure development and quality improvement.
To raise the processing level by 10% , an investment of
approximately Rs 1400 billion required.
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Indias International Trade - 2001-02

Agriculture
Non-Agriculture
2500
2000

120
289

1500
1000
500

1736

2148

0
Exports

Imports

Rs Billions

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Strategies & Initiatives : Promotion of Exports

Indias competitive advantage
- Diverse agro climatic conditions.
- Sufficiency of Inputs.
- Reasonable labour costs.

Agriculture exports from India account for less than 1% world trade in
Agriculture commodities.
- Target is to raise Indias share to 2% .

Thrust Areas

Improvement and maintenance of quality.

Consonance with International Standards.
Strengthening of Infrastructure.
Identification of niche products and markets.
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Indias Agricultural Export Potentials

Marine Products
Rice
Wheat
Condiments and Spuces
Cashew
Tea
Coffee
Castor
Jute
Fruits and Vegetables- Onions, Mango, Grapes, Banana,
Tomato , Potato , Lichchi ,etc.
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THANK YOU

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