Agriculture is the main occupation of a large part of India's population and supplies food and raw materials to industries. It contributes about 16-18 percent to the GDP but employs nearly 45 percent of the workforce. This makes it central to the rural economy.
Importance of Agriculture
- Provides food for the population and fodder for animals.
- Supplies raw materials to industries like textiles and sugar.
- A major source of employment in rural areas.
- Contributes to exports such as rice, tea, spices and cotton.
Cropping Seasons
India has three main cropping seasons:
- Kharif – sown in June-July, harvested in September-October. Crops: rice, maize, cotton, jowar.
- Rabi – sown in October-November, harvested in March-April. Crops: wheat, gram, mustard, barley.
- Zaid – short summer season between Rabi and Kharif. Crops: watermelon, cucumber, muskmelon.
Green Revolution
The Green Revolution began in the mid-1960s and raised food grain production using high-yielding variety (HYV) seeds, fertilizers and irrigation. M.S. Swaminathan is known as the Father of the Green Revolution in India. It mainly benefited wheat and rice in states like Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh.
Minimum Support Price (MSP)
MSP is the price at which the government buys crops from farmers to protect them from price falls. It is announced by the government on the advice of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). The Food Corporation of India (FCI) handles procurement and storage.
Challenges
- Dependence on monsoon rains.
- Small and fragmented landholdings.
- Low use of modern technology by small farmers.
- Lack of storage and market access.
Quick Revision Points
- Agriculture contributes about 16-18 percent to GDP.
- Three seasons: Kharif, Rabi, Zaid.
- Rice is a Kharif crop; wheat is a Rabi crop.
- Green Revolution started in the mid-1960s.
- M.S. Swaminathan is its father in India.
- MSP is advised by CACP.
- FCI handles procurement and storage.
- Indian agriculture depends heavily on the monsoon.