Agriculture in India

Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy, employing about 42.6% of the workforce and contributing significantly to food security, rural livelihood, and economic stability.

• Employment: 42.6% of total workforce (2019-20)
• GDP Contribution: 20.2% (including allied sectors, 2019-20)
• Export earnings: $41.25 billion (2020-21)
• Food security: Feeds 1.39 billion population
• Rural economy: Primary source of rural income

==== Agricultural Land ####

• Total geographical area: 328.7 million hectares
• Net sown area: 140.1 million hectares (42.6%)
• Gross cropped area: 198.4 million hectares
• Cropping intensity: 141.6%

==== Based on Monsoon Dependence ####

Kharif Crops (Summer Season):

• Season: June-July to September-October
• Monsoon: Southwest monsoon dependent
• Major crops: Rice, cotton, sugarcane, maize, pulses
• Harvesting: September-October

Rabi Crops (Winter Season):

• Season: October-November to March-April
• Irrigation: Largely irrigated
• Major crops: Wheat, barley, gram, mustard, peas
• Harvesting: April-May

Zaid Crops (Summer Season):

• Season: March-April to June-July
• Water requirement: High irrigation needs
• Major crops: Watermelon, cucumber, fodder crops
• Limited area: Due to water scarcity

==== Based on Water Source ####

==== Food Grains ####

Rice:

• Production: 118.43 million tonnes (2019-20)
• Area: 44 million hectares
• Major states: West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh
• Conditions: High temperature (25°C), high rainfall (100cm+)

Wheat:

• Production: 107.86 million tonnes (2019-20)
• Area: 29.4 million hectares
• Major states: Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh
• Conditions: Cool growing season, moderate rainfall

Pulses:

• Production: 23.03 million tonnes (2019-20)
• Importance: Protein source, nitrogen fixation
• Major types: Arhar, moong, urad, gram, masur
• Challenge: Low productivity, import dependence

==== Cash Crops ####

Cotton:

• Production: 36.54 million bales (2019-20)
• Major states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka
• Conditions: Black soil, moderate rainfall, 180 frost-free days
• Uses: Textile industry, export earnings

Sugarcane:

• Production: 353.8 million tonnes (2019-20)
• Major states: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
• Conditions: Hot humid climate, heavy rainfall/irrigation
• Industry: Sugar mills, ethanol production

==== Commercial Crops ####

Tea:

• Production: 1.34 billion kg (2019-20)
• Major states: Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala
• Export: Significant foreign exchange earner
• Employment: Labor-intensive cultivation

Coffee:

• Production: 0.32 million tonnes (2019-20)
• Major states: Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu
• Types: Arabica and Robusta
• Export potential: Premium coffee varieties

==== Background ####

• Period: Mid-1960s to 1970s
• Objective: Achieve food self-sufficiency
• Father: M.S. Swaminathan
• Focus: High-yielding variety (HYV) seeds

==== Components ####

==== Achievements ####

• Food self-sufficiency: India became self-sufficient in food grains
• Productivity increase:
  1. Wheat: 851 kg/hectare (1950-51) to 3,533 kg/hectare (2018-19)
  2. Rice: 668 kg/hectare (1950-51) to 2,659 kg/hectare (2018-19)
• Regional impact: Punjab, Haryana, UP benefited most

==== Limitations ####

• Regional disparity: Benefits concentrated in few states
• Crop bias: Focus mainly on wheat and rice
• Environmental concerns: Soil degradation, water table depletion
• Income inequality: Large vs small farmers

==== Market Structure ####

Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC):

• Function: Regulate agricultural marketing
• Structure: State-level committees
• Issues: Monopolistic practices, limited market access
• Reforms: Direct marketing, e-NAM platform

Minimum Support Price (MSP):

• Objective: Price support to farmers
• Coverage: 23 crops currently
• Determining body: Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)
• Implementation: Through government procurement

==== Recent Reforms ####

Farm Acts 2020 (repealed 2021):

• Contract farming: Agreement between farmers and companies
• Direct marketing: Sale outside APMC mandis
• Price risk management: Forward contracts and derivatives

e-NAM (Electronic National Agriculture Market):

• Launch: 2016
• Objective: Unified national market
• Features: Online trading, transparent pricing
• Coverage: 1,000+ mandis connected

• Launch: 2019
• Objective: Income support to farmers
• Benefit: ₹6,000 per year in three installments
• Coverage: All landholding farmers

==== Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) ####

• Launch: 2016
• Objective: Crop insurance scheme
• Premium: 2% for Kharif, 1.5% for Rabi
• Technology: Satellite imagery, weather data

==== Soil Health Card ####

• Launch: 2015
• Objective: Soil testing and nutrient management
• Coverage: 22 crore farmers
• Impact: Balanced fertilizer use

==== Structural Challenges ####

• Land fragmentation: Average holding size 1.08 hectares
• Low productivity: Compared to global averages
• Infrastructure deficit: Storage, transportation, processing
• Credit access: Formal credit to 64% farmers

==== Environmental Challenges ####

• Soil degradation: 147 million hectares affected
• Water scarcity: Groundwater depletion
• Climate change: Irregular rainfall, extreme weather
• Pest and diseases: Crop losses

==== Economic Challenges ####

• Price volatility: Unstable market prices
• Input costs: Rising costs of fertilizers, seeds
• Post-harvest losses: 15-20% of total production
• Market access: Limited access to remunerative markets

==== Doubling Farmers' Income ####

• Target: Double farmers' income by 2024
• Strategies:
  1. Increase productivity
  2. Reduce input costs
  3. Improve market access
  4. Value addition

==== Sustainable Agriculture ####

• Natural farming: Reduced chemical inputs
• Climate-smart agriculture: Adaptation measures
• Water use efficiency: Drip irrigation, micro-sprinklers
• Organic farming: Chemical-free production

==== Technology Integration ####

• Digital agriculture: AI, IoT applications
• Precision farming: Site-specific crop management
• Biotechnology: GM crops, bio-fortification
• Mechanization: Appropriate farm machinery

• Paper: General Studies Paper III (Economic Development)
• Topics: Agricultural reforms, food security, rural development
• Previous Year Questions:
  1. Green Revolution impact and limitations (2021)
  2. MSP system and agricultural marketing reforms (2020)
  3. Climate change impact on agriculture (2019)
  4. Doubling farmers' income strategies (2018)

• Employment: 42.6% of workforce
• GDP contribution: 20.2% (including allied sectors)
• Net sown area: 140.1 million hectares
• Cropping intensity: 141.6%
• Irrigated area: 48.1%
• Average land holding: 1.08 hectares
• Food grain production: 295+ million tonnes

Major Rice Producing States: West Uttar Punjab Andhra

• W - West Bengal (highest)
• U - Uttar Pradesh
• P - Punjab
• A - Andhra Pradesh

Green Revolution Components: HyV Irrigation Fertilizer Pesticide Mechanization

• H - High-yielding variety seeds
• I - Irrigation facilities
• F - Fertilizers
• P - Pesticides
• M - Mechanization

• Food processing industry
• Agricultural credit and banking

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Sources: Economic Survey 2021-22, Ministry of Agriculture, FAO India