BY:ALOK KUMAR

Agriculture :Basic Introduction

Agriculture is demographically the broadest economic

sector and plays a significant role in the overall socioeconomic fabric of India Provides the principal means of livelihood for over 58.4% of India's population. As 43% of land in India, is used for farming but contributes only 18% of the nations GDP. Contributes 10% of total export earnings and provides row material for industries. Less productivity in compare to other countries like China, Brazil etc.

Major Problems of Agriculture

Population Pressure Small and Fragmented Land Holdings Depleted Soils

Storage of food grains

Farm Implements Inadequate Irrigation Facilities

Marketing of agriculture in India.

Population Pressure
India has a huge population of over 1.2 billion and it is

increasing at a very fast rate. According to 2011 census data figure population density is about 412 persons per sq. km. The ratio of agricultural land to Indias farming population shrunk to less then 0.3 hectares per person.

That results in:

Huge demand of land Every bit of land has been brought

under the plough. Even the hill slopes have been cut into terraces for cultivation. Reduction of arable land.

Small and Fragmented Land Holdings

Due to increasing population and the practice of dividing land

equally among the heirs. The average size of land holdings is very small. The average size of the holdings shrinking from 1.69 hectares in 1985-1986 to 1.23 hectares in 2010-2011. The proportion of marginal landholdings (less than a hectare) increased from 57.8 percent in 1985-1986 to 67.3 percent in 2010-2011.

Results in : Disguised unemployment and low productivity of labour. Makes farming activity uneconomical and leads to social tension, violence and discontentment.

Lack of Technology
Illiteracy of farmers and their ignorance in the field of

modern agricultural practices and technology, hampered by high costs and impracticality in the case of small land holdings. Due to poverty, they do not have enough resources to purchase modern farm implements and tools.

Depleted Soils
Physical degradation of soil compaction, crusting

and other effects caused by excessive cultivation Chemical degradation like-acidification of soil due to wide gap between nutrient demand and supply Soil pollution from industrial wastes, excessive use of pesticides and heavy metal contamination Biological degradation by organic matter depletion and loss of soil fauna and flora

Depleted soil cont..

High nutrient turnover in soil-plant system coupled with

low and imbalanced fertilizer use Emerging deficiencies of secondary nature and micronutrients Insufficient organic resource use because of competitive uses Acidification and aluminum toxicity in acidic soils Lack of material resources and ignorance of scientific knowledge. Soil degradation due to water and wind erosion

Storage of food grains

10 to 15 percent of our harvest wastes every year.

It can be avoided by developing scientific ware-

housing facilities. The government has taken several steps to provide storage facilities like formation of warehouses corporations , the food corporation of India etc.

Inadequate Irrigation Facilities

Indian agriculture mainly depends on monsoon where good

monsoon results in a vigorous growth while a poor monsoon leads to a sluggish growth. Half of the total area under food crops has been brought under irrigation and the remaining half is left to the mercy of monsoon rains which are erratic in time and space. World Bank also says that the allocation of water is inefficient, unsustainable and inequitable. The irrigation infrastructure is deteriorating. Mainly effects the small and marginal farmers due to there more dependence on monsoon.

Marketing of agriculture in India

Due to lack of organized retail and competing buyers

thereby limiting Indian farmer's ability to sell the surplus and commercial crops. The Indian farmer receives just 10 to 23 percent of the price the Indian consumer pays for exactly the same produce.

References:
Http://www.apcoworldwide.com
http://en.wikipedia.org http://www.preservearticles.com