Agriculture refers to crop production and animal husbandry. India's economy is based on agriculture. Agriculture has been practiced in India for approximately 10,000 years. That is why India is called an agricultural country. However, it is fair to say that real agricultural development in India began with the Green Revolution of the 1960s, led by Dr. M.S. Swaminathan. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Dr. A.B. Joshi played a key role in bringing the Green Revolution to India. Since then, India has established a strong agricultural infrastructure, and today India has all the necessary technologies available.
History of Indian Agriculture
India has a rich agricultural tradition. Historians' research shows that even during the Indus Valley Civilization, agriculture was the backbone of India's economy.
During the Vedic period, sowing and harvesting were practiced. Tools such as plows, sickles, and sieves were used, and various grains such as wheat, rice, and barley were cultivated. Ancient India is also credited with establishing the tradition of increasing soil fertility through the system of cyclic fallow. According to Romesberg (the father of European botany), this system was later adopted in the Western world.
During research on the Indus Valley Civilization, excavations in Kantha have uncovered abundant evidence that agriculture was highly advanced approximately five thousand years ago. Revenue was paid in grain, a conclusion drawn by literary scholars and archaeologists based on the extensive granaries excavated at Mohenjo-daro. Furthermore, samples of wheat and barley recovered during excavations confirm their presence as staple crops at that time.
Kautilya's Arthashastra describes the appointment of agricultural officials to promote agriculture and agricultural production during the Mauryan period. The Greek traveler Megasthenes also wrote that the king appointed officials to ensure equitable distribution of water in the main canal and its branches, and to inspect rivers and wells.
Indian agriculture suffered the most adverse effects before India's independence. During this period, the Indian economy was exploited and fell prey to British self-interest, and its consequences were felt across all sectors. Indeed, this was a period of exploitation of the Indian agricultural sector, resulting in a worsening of agricultural conditions.
After independence, until the mid-1960s, agriculture in India used traditional seeds, which had relatively low yields and required less irrigation. Farmers used cow dung as fertilizer.
After 1960, the use of high-yield seeds (HYV) began. This increased the use of irrigation and chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This also increased the need for irrigation. This also led to a significant increase in wheat and rice production, which is why it is also called the Green Revolution.
Agricultural Equipment
In India, traditional agricultural tools such as hoes, pickaxes, sickles, and axes are used alongside modern machinery. Farmers use tractors for plowing, harvesters for harvesting, and threshers for threshing.
Irrigation in India
Irrigation in India refers to the supply of water for cultivation and agricultural activities from Indian rivers, ponds, wells, canals, and other artificial projects. In a country like India, 64% of arable land is monsoon-dependent. The economic importance of irrigation in India includes reducing volatility in production, improving agricultural productivity, reducing dependence on monsoons, bringing more land under cultivation, creating employment opportunities, increasing access to electricity and transportation, and controlling floods and droughts.
Agricultural Exports
India's agricultural exports have reached a historic high of $50 billion. Agricultural product exports for the year 2021-22 have crossed $50 billion. This is the highest agricultural product export ever. According to provisional data released by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, agricultural production increased by 19.92 percent to $50.21 billion during 2021-22.
This growth rate is impressive and exceeds the growth rate of 17.66 percent, i.e. $41.87 billion, in 2020-21. This achievement over the last two years will significantly contribute to realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of improving farmers' incomes. This is the highest ever export of rice, wheat, sugar, and other grains. Wheat exports have registered an unprecedented increase of 273 percent.
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