Scenario of Agriculture in India: A Review
Rajat Kumar Parit, M.Sc. Agri.(Soil Science),
Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, India
Introduction and Background
India also known as the ‘ Land of Agriculture’ where agriculture began about
11,000 years ago with the domestication of animals and early cultivation of plants,
has made significant progress over the millennia and several evidence were found in
the ancient scripts of Vedas, Upanishadas, Ramayana and Mahabharata. Indian
Agriculture is very complex having several but distinct agro-ecosystems, having all
type of climatic i.e. tropical, sub-tropical and temparate, soil like red soil, black
cotton soil, alluvial, lomy soil etc., vegetation and other natural features. Total
geographical area of country is around 328 mHa and is divided into 15 agro-climatic
zones. Before Independence agriculture in India was mainly monsoon dependent and
unfavourable rainfall, natural calamities resulted in total crop failure which causes
several famines (Table. 1) throughout the history. Thus, agriculture is considered as
one of the most prioritized sector by the planning commission and a very famous
quote on agriculture was given by Prime Minister Nehru that ‘everything else can
wait but not agriculture’. Though Indian Agriculture is weather dependent, degrading
soil health, variability in temperature and mutation of virulent pest and pathogens,
which are continuing post-independence, Indian agriculture achieved several
landmarks primarily due to green revolution, white revolution and science-led
agricultural development. After green revolution which happened during 1960s and as
the time passed, Indian become self-sufficient in food security that brought
confidence and raised the country’s stature globally. During that time eminent breeder
of the country Dr. M.S. Swaminathan played a key role and he is considered as the
“Father of Green Revolution” of India. After the agricultural revolutions (Table 2)
India started achieving several milestones like country become the largest producer of
milk (white revolution), pulses and jute and second largest producer of rice, wheat,
cotton, fruits and vegetables in the world. India is also one of the leading producers of
Fish (Blue Revolution) spices, poultry, livestock and plantation crops. The battle of
country does not end here, it started struggling for increasing productivity, production,
profitability and quality food (Bio-fortified) to meet the demand of increasing
population at the same time reserving depleting natural resource base through
sustainable agriculture.At present the country is focusing on enhancing farmers
income by 200%, reducing fertilizer use by 25% and water use by 20%, increasing
use of renewable energy by 50%, reducing greenhouse gas emission intensity by 45%.
Table 1: Pre- independence famines in India
Sl. No. Name of Famine Year No. Of victims (millions)
1 Bengal Famine 1769-70 2-10
2 Chalisa Famine 1783-84 11
3 Doji Bara Famine 1791-92 11
4 Agra Famine 1837-38 0.8
5 Upper Doab Famine 1860-61 2
6 Orrisa Famine 1865-67 4-5
7 Rajasthan Famine 1868-70 1.5
, 8 Bihar Famine 1873-74 2.5
9 Southern India Famine 1876-78 6-10
10 Indian Famine 1896-97 12-16
11 Indian Famine 1899-1900 3-10
12 Great Bengal Famine 1943 2-3
Source: Adopted from IGI(1970)
At present, India is one of the major players in the agriculture sector worldwide
and it is the primary source of livelihood for about 58% of India’s population.
Agriculture plays a major role behind development of the country’s economy and acts
as the driving force by freeing the economy to focus on the development of other
segments as the successive Governments after 1970s never had to worry about food
shortages. Indian agriculture has shown its position of importance once again during
the recent Covid-19 pandemic by registering impressive growth even as all other
sectors of the economy declined. During the Pandemic governments never had to
worry about food stocks to feed people and could focus on handling the pandemic.
Table. 2: Agricultural revolutions in India
Sl. No, Name of Revolution Related to
1 Green Revolution Food Grains
2 White Revolution Milk/Dairy
3 Blue Revolution Fish
4 Golden revolution Friuts/ Honey
5 Grey Revolution Fertilizers
6 Pink Revolution Onion
7 Yellow Revolution Oil seed/ Mustard
8 Silver Revolution Egg/poultry
9 Red Revolution Meat/Tomato
10. Evergreen Revolution Overall Development of agriculture
Vast Diversification of Indian Agriculture
We can see vast diversification in Indian agriculture as diverse as the country
itself. It differs from place to place depending upon different agroecosystems,
commonality of climatic, soil, geological, vegetational and other natural features. It
decide the diversity of habitats, variety of crops and livestock that has been developed
over the millennia. In India agriculture began around 11,000 years ago which is one of
the earliest regions on earth. The Indian region is centre of origin of various crops and
plants. Approximately, 166 crop species and 320 wild relatives of crops have
originated here. Genetic diversity, mutation within each species is also tremendous.
This can be explained with example of paddy and mango. One species of paddy has
diversified into approximately 50,000 distinct varieties, and one species of mango into
over 1,000 varieties ranging from the size of a peanut to a small pumpkin. Largest
diversity of livestock can also be seen in India. All the world’s eight buffalo breeds
namely Murrah, Jaffarabadi, Mehsana, Sruti, Nili, Nagpuri, Bhadawari, Toda are
found here.
As of now a large number of crops are cultivated in the country and among them
paddy and wheat are mostly grown crops in kharif and rabi season respectively
comprising approx. 46 million hectare of paddy and 30.5 million hectare of wheat
area. Besides these other cereal crops like maize, sorghum, pearl millet and finger
millet etc. are also grown. Talking about pulses lentils, chickpea, arhar(pigeon pea)
Rajat Kumar Parit, M.Sc. Agri.(Soil Science),
Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, India
Introduction and Background
India also known as the ‘ Land of Agriculture’ where agriculture began about
11,000 years ago with the domestication of animals and early cultivation of plants,
has made significant progress over the millennia and several evidence were found in
the ancient scripts of Vedas, Upanishadas, Ramayana and Mahabharata. Indian
Agriculture is very complex having several but distinct agro-ecosystems, having all
type of climatic i.e. tropical, sub-tropical and temparate, soil like red soil, black
cotton soil, alluvial, lomy soil etc., vegetation and other natural features. Total
geographical area of country is around 328 mHa and is divided into 15 agro-climatic
zones. Before Independence agriculture in India was mainly monsoon dependent and
unfavourable rainfall, natural calamities resulted in total crop failure which causes
several famines (Table. 1) throughout the history. Thus, agriculture is considered as
one of the most prioritized sector by the planning commission and a very famous
quote on agriculture was given by Prime Minister Nehru that ‘everything else can
wait but not agriculture’. Though Indian Agriculture is weather dependent, degrading
soil health, variability in temperature and mutation of virulent pest and pathogens,
which are continuing post-independence, Indian agriculture achieved several
landmarks primarily due to green revolution, white revolution and science-led
agricultural development. After green revolution which happened during 1960s and as
the time passed, Indian become self-sufficient in food security that brought
confidence and raised the country’s stature globally. During that time eminent breeder
of the country Dr. M.S. Swaminathan played a key role and he is considered as the
“Father of Green Revolution” of India. After the agricultural revolutions (Table 2)
India started achieving several milestones like country become the largest producer of
milk (white revolution), pulses and jute and second largest producer of rice, wheat,
cotton, fruits and vegetables in the world. India is also one of the leading producers of
Fish (Blue Revolution) spices, poultry, livestock and plantation crops. The battle of
country does not end here, it started struggling for increasing productivity, production,
profitability and quality food (Bio-fortified) to meet the demand of increasing
population at the same time reserving depleting natural resource base through
sustainable agriculture.At present the country is focusing on enhancing farmers
income by 200%, reducing fertilizer use by 25% and water use by 20%, increasing
use of renewable energy by 50%, reducing greenhouse gas emission intensity by 45%.
Table 1: Pre- independence famines in India
Sl. No. Name of Famine Year No. Of victims (millions)
1 Bengal Famine 1769-70 2-10
2 Chalisa Famine 1783-84 11
3 Doji Bara Famine 1791-92 11
4 Agra Famine 1837-38 0.8
5 Upper Doab Famine 1860-61 2
6 Orrisa Famine 1865-67 4-5
7 Rajasthan Famine 1868-70 1.5
, 8 Bihar Famine 1873-74 2.5
9 Southern India Famine 1876-78 6-10
10 Indian Famine 1896-97 12-16
11 Indian Famine 1899-1900 3-10
12 Great Bengal Famine 1943 2-3
Source: Adopted from IGI(1970)
At present, India is one of the major players in the agriculture sector worldwide
and it is the primary source of livelihood for about 58% of India’s population.
Agriculture plays a major role behind development of the country’s economy and acts
as the driving force by freeing the economy to focus on the development of other
segments as the successive Governments after 1970s never had to worry about food
shortages. Indian agriculture has shown its position of importance once again during
the recent Covid-19 pandemic by registering impressive growth even as all other
sectors of the economy declined. During the Pandemic governments never had to
worry about food stocks to feed people and could focus on handling the pandemic.
Table. 2: Agricultural revolutions in India
Sl. No, Name of Revolution Related to
1 Green Revolution Food Grains
2 White Revolution Milk/Dairy
3 Blue Revolution Fish
4 Golden revolution Friuts/ Honey
5 Grey Revolution Fertilizers
6 Pink Revolution Onion
7 Yellow Revolution Oil seed/ Mustard
8 Silver Revolution Egg/poultry
9 Red Revolution Meat/Tomato
10. Evergreen Revolution Overall Development of agriculture
Vast Diversification of Indian Agriculture
We can see vast diversification in Indian agriculture as diverse as the country
itself. It differs from place to place depending upon different agroecosystems,
commonality of climatic, soil, geological, vegetational and other natural features. It
decide the diversity of habitats, variety of crops and livestock that has been developed
over the millennia. In India agriculture began around 11,000 years ago which is one of
the earliest regions on earth. The Indian region is centre of origin of various crops and
plants. Approximately, 166 crop species and 320 wild relatives of crops have
originated here. Genetic diversity, mutation within each species is also tremendous.
This can be explained with example of paddy and mango. One species of paddy has
diversified into approximately 50,000 distinct varieties, and one species of mango into
over 1,000 varieties ranging from the size of a peanut to a small pumpkin. Largest
diversity of livestock can also be seen in India. All the world’s eight buffalo breeds
namely Murrah, Jaffarabadi, Mehsana, Sruti, Nili, Nagpuri, Bhadawari, Toda are
found here.
As of now a large number of crops are cultivated in the country and among them
paddy and wheat are mostly grown crops in kharif and rabi season respectively
comprising approx. 46 million hectare of paddy and 30.5 million hectare of wheat
area. Besides these other cereal crops like maize, sorghum, pearl millet and finger
millet etc. are also grown. Talking about pulses lentils, chickpea, arhar(pigeon pea)
