Agriculture: The Backbone of India's Economy

Agriculture is without a doubt the backbone of our country. Agriculture is a vital source of income for the majority of Indians, and it should never be underestimated. Agriculture has been practised in our country for hundreds of years, but modern technology and equipment have mostly replaced traditional farming methods.

Due to a lack of resources to implement new techniques, few farmers in India still practise old farming methods. Agriculture is the only industry that helps both the producer and the country as a whole. India produces the second-largest amount of wheat, rice, cotton, fruit, vegetables, and tea in the world. It also produces over 280 million tonnes, accounting for more than 15% of India's GDP and making it a global agricultural powerhouse. It is the country that produces the most spices, milk, wheat, rice, and cotton in the world. 

Role of Agriculture in India:

Agriculture is the primary source of income for 70% of India’s people. The agricultural sector is the most crucial for India’s development, and the government is putting forth a lot of effort to ensure that it expands and develops quickly.

Previously, India was unable to meet its population’s needs and had to rely on imports from other countries. Agriculture used to be mostly dependent on the monsoon, but since the Green Revolution, it has been able to not only produce enough food for its people, but even export food grains.

The government opted to make some substantial adjustments in this sector after independence. Dams for irrigation have been erected, and various schemes for farmers have been introduced; yet, the agricultural industry still needs to grows. Wide yielding varieties, as well as innovative irrigation techniques, were developed during the Green Revolution. Farmers no longer worry about rain, and even if it doesn’t rain, the crops receive ample water and yield better.

Consequences for the agricultural environment:

Agriculture has aided mankind in the growth of civilization in the past, but now, in this new period, when dangerous chemicals are utilised for larger yields, it is generating a slew of negative environmental repercussions, including the following:

The usage of fertiliser pollutes the soil, making it less fruitful, while also introducing chemicals into the human body, causing adverse effects.

 As the world's population grows, so does deforestation, which has a negative influence on the ecosystem. 

Excessive usage of river water is endangering the lives of river animals as the water supply is exhausted. 

Agriculture has impacted the environment in this way, and we must find ways to mitigate these effects.

What are the challenges that India’s agriculture faces?

Unpredictable Weather Patterns:

Even while we have advanced tools for detecting rainfall and sunrises, they are insufficient on a large scale for agriculture. Prediction, on the other hand, is useless. There are little rains, a rapid rise in temperature, and other variables that could destroy the crops. This is commonly referred to as an act of God or Force Majeure. Since the dawn of time, man has struggled with this issue.

Inadequate Support:

India has one of the world’s highest rates of farmer suicide. Every day, ten farmers commit suicide in the United States. They frequently commit suicide when they are unable to repay the loans they used to grow the land. Farmers adopt this drastic step as a result of pressure from their landlords, moneylenders, or banks. To avoid any further deaths in the agriculture sector, the government must provide quick aid and action.

Lack of awareness:

To strengthen their agricultural industry, countries such as the United States and China use technology and data analytics techniques. Regrettably, India lags far behind in this area. 

Improvements to India’s Agriculture:

To improve the sector, the following steps can be taken.

Farmers require financial assistance from all parts of the country. Given the current situation, in which the coronavirus epidemic is wreaking havoc on every sector of the economy, the agriculture sector requires rapid respite and relaxations. The government should begin by forgiving farmer loans and injecting capital into the sector to help farmers get back on their feet.

Another key policy that the Indian government wants to implement is the Minimum Support Price. Regardless of whether it is Rabi or Kharif crops, fruits or vegetables, a minimum price will be set below which farmers will not be forced to sell their produce. Farmers are frequently exploited by middlemen at mandis and wholesale markets, where produce is purchased for a low price and then sold to end consumers at a high price, leaving farmers in the red.

Written by: Elima Lucas