Challenges faced by the Agriculture Sector in India

This is an attempt, through the review of literature, to understand the history and characteristics of the Indian agriculture sector, its transition from traditional to commercial agriculture and the problems it faces. Modern agricultural practices and the relationship with environmental depletion have also been assessed. The article discusses some of the developmental challenges faced by the Indian agriculture sector in particular and developing nations in general illiteracy, poor socioeconomic conditions, lack of technical knowledge and awareness, small land holdings, modernization leading to barren land and disasters leading to rural poverty, weather-dependent farming systems, low per capita income, underdeveloped physical infrastructures and inefficient bureaucratic procedures associated with the comparatively high cost of agricultural production. Natural disasters and human-induced environmental degradation are closely associated with improved farming systems. History and Characteristics Agriculture in India has a long history, dating back ten thousand years. It began by 9000 BC as a result of early cultivation of plants and domestication of crops and animals (^ Gupta, page 54). With the development of agricultural implements and techniques, settled life soon started (^ Harris & Gosden, ^ Lal, R.). Double monsoons led to two harvests being reaped in one year (^ a b agriculture). Until British Rule, the Indian economy had been known for centuries for its self-contained village communities, consisting of agriculturists, cottage industrialists, village craftsmen, artisan professions, unskilled workers and village officials. These communities played a major role in not only meeting the needs of the village economy but producing and exporting various products to foreign countries. During those times agriculture was a way of living and the farmer produced merely for selfconsumption. Food crops like wheat and rice were the most important. Since plants and animals were considered essential to their survival, people started worshipping and respecting them (^ Gupta, page 57). The middle ages saw irrigation channels reach a new level of sophistication in India and Indian crops affecting the economies of other regions of the world under Islamic patronage (^ Iqtidar & ^ Shaffer). Land and water management systems were developed to provide uniform growth (^ Palat & ^ Kumar). However, during the British Period, when the industrial revolution was going on in England (1780-1820), the British forced farmers to switch over to commercial crops like cotton and indigo and started providing financial assistance to farmers through zamindars and British agents to export the surplus cash crops to England. There was continuous exploitation of natural resources and economic wealth from India till Independence was achieved. Due to this economic drain, there was permanent loss of India’s national income and wealth. The result was that by the mid-nineteenth century, traditional handicrafts were completely wiped out and artisans lost their hereditary occupations. This led to their migration to agriculture for their livelihood and made this sector over crowded, a process called ‘deindustrialisation’, which led to stagnation in the Indian economy. Nevertheless, independent India was able to develop a comprehensive agricultural program (^ Roy & ^ Kumar). The first agricultural census was started in 197071(July-June) as part of the 1970 World Agricultural Census Program sponsored by FAO. It collects agricultural information such as number, area, tenancy, land utilization, cropping pattern and irrigation particulars of different sizes. The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), established in 1905, was responsible for research leading to the Green Revolution of the 1970s. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is the apex body in agriculture and allied fields, including research and education (^ Objectives). The Union Minister of Agriculture is the President of the ICAR. The Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute develops new techniques for the design of agricultural experiments, analyses data in agriculture, and specializes in statistical techniques for animal and plant breeding. Recently the Government has set up a Farmers’ Commission to evaluate the agriculture program(^ Farmers Commission).However their recommendations have had a mixed reception.