Essay on Agriculture

Agriculture is a primary source of livelihood in India. Half of the population living in India is employed in agriculture. Agriculture has a huge impact on the health of the economy and the nation's food security. This sector of the economy is in huge distress and seeing continuous stagnation. Prospects of agriculture bloomed during Green Revolution, but they slowed down over the period. The depressing state of agriculture is largely contributed to the policies adopted by the Colonial Rulers like Zamindari System, Permanent Settlement, etc. Agriculture is overburdened with people, and the product remains the same.

After India became free, the Government of Independent India remained concerned about the bad state of agriculture. They set up various commissions to study the problems related to agriculture. Many reports were submitted to the Government to improve the farmers' lives, but this has remained largely on paper, and no visible and significant improvement has been observed in the lives of farmers.

Different Types of Agriculture Practised in the World

Agriculture is performed under various conditions that may include socio-economic and physical conditions. These conditions have generated different types of Agriculture in the world. Some different types of agriculture which are present and performed around the Globe are:

Primitive Subsistence Agriculture

This type of cultivation is performed by the tribes and is mostly observed in South and Central America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Sometimes it is also called Shifting cultivation. It also has another name Slash and Burns agriculture, due to its unique method. The fire clears the whole vegetation, and the remaining ashes give fertility to the soil. Farmer shifts to another location as the previous patch of land loses fertility after 3 to 5 years. It is performed on small soil areas, and the tools used in these kinds of cultivation are very primitive and archaic. People call it Jhum Cultivation in North Eastern India, Ladang in Malaysia and Indonesia, and Milpa in Mexico and Central America.

Intensive Subsistence Agriculture

This type of cultivation has been observed in the heavily populated regions of Asia, and it has been divided into two types based on the domination of crops:

Wet Paddy Cultivation
Crops other than Paddy

Plantation Agriculture

The Colonial Masters introduced this type of agriculture in their respective colonies. The striking feature of this type of agriculture is cultivated on large patches of land. Bananas, sugarcane, coffee, tea, cocoa, rubber, pineapples, oil palm, and cottonare important crops. This type of agriculture demands a huge amount of capital, an efficient system of transportation that should connect estates and markets so that products can be exported easily, technical and managerial support, scientific ways of cultivation, cheap labor, and specialization in single crops.

The British Colonial master established huge Tea estates in Sri Lanka and India. Some colonial examples are Banana and Sugarcane plantations in West Indies and rubber plantations in Malaysia. French had set up coffee and cocoa plantations in West Africa. The Dutch had monopolized Sugarcane plantations in Indonesia, but later, when these countries got freedom from the shackles of slavery, the ownership of the estates got transferred to the respective national governments.

Mixed and Dairy Farming

Mixed farming is widely observed in developed countries like Eastern North America, North-Western Europe, and some parts of Eurasia. Major crops grown in this kind of farming are corn, fodder, barley, oats, and root crops. One of the striking features of mixed farming is the practice of intercropping and crop rotation. Crop cultivation and Animal Husbandry have an equal place in this kind of farming. Visible characteristics of farming are immense use of green manure and fertilizers, farm machinery, involvement of skill and expertise of men, and heavy capital expenditure is required.

Dairy Farming

This farming demands a huge amount of capital, and advanced technology is roped into milch animals. Special attention is paid to health care, cattle breeding, and veterinary services. This farming is labor intensive, and special focus has to be given to milching and feeding. Dairy farming is mostly practiced near major industrial units and urban centers.

Agricultural Pattern in India

Monsoon in India decides the prospects of agriculture. In India, Agriculture is hugely dependent on the monsoon. Agriculture has been divided into two seasons: Kharif Season and Rabi Season.

Kharif Seasons

This season begins with the arrival of monsoons in India, and crops are sown at the beginning of the monsoon. Harvesting seasons are observed from September to October. The timelines varied from state to state.

Water is the most important criterion for production. Kharif Crops demand a good amount of rainfall for growth. The output production of these crops largely depends on the water. Some examples of Kharif crops are Cotton, Rice, Maize, Sorghum, Bajra,and Soyabean.

Rabi Season

Rabi Crops are grown in the winter season from October or November. Harvesting of this crop is seen in the Spring season. This type of crop demands continuous water as they are sown in dry seasons. Rabi crops are Wheat, Linseed, Mustard, Pulses, Oats, and Barley. Those crops grown in both seasons greatly impact the prices of vegetables and grains.

Major Crops Grown in India

It has been classified into two forms:

Cash Crops: Tea, Coffee, Sugarcane, Oilseeds, Cotton, Horticulture Crops, and Jute.

Food Crops: Corn, Rice, Wheat, Pulses, and Millets.

Challenges Facing Agriculture

1. Pattern of Cropping

The pattern of Cropping Crops that are cultivated in India is broadly classified into two ways: Non-Food Crops and Food Crops. Non- Food crops include oilseeds and the cultivation of fibres. Food Crops include sugarcane, beverages, and grains. The cropping pattern has not changed and caused many land and soil-related problems. As the climate changing, there is a growing demand for crop diversification.

2. Instability

As discussed above, Agriculture is immensely dependent upon the timing of the monsoon. It largely influences the production of grains. If the monsoon fails, it will have a devastating result on agriculture production.

3. Fragmentation and Sub Division of Land

The rise in population and families becoming nuclear has led to further and continuous land division. Sometimes, the owner has to sell its land to pay the debt.

4. Land Ownership

Inequality in land distribution is a cause of concern. In India, ownership of the land changes frequently. It has created a vicious circle in which large parcels of land in India are owned by few Individuals, including money-lenders, rich farmers, and landlords. The majority of farmers own few pieces of land or are either landless.

5. Pesticides, Chemical Fertilizers, and Manures

Soils in India do not get enough time for replenishment, leading to low productivity and depletion of fertility. The yield of the crops is the lowest in the world. The nature of the issue is grave and can be cured using the scientific method.

6. Problem in Irrigation

India has the privilege of being the second largest irrigated country in the Globe. However, just one-third of the area is under irrigation. Thus, it has become imperative to spread the irrigation network in India as the Monsoon in India is erratic and untimely.

7. Inefficient Transportation system

A well-connected transport system is required for the timely delivery of produce from the field to the market. It ensures that products should reach to market without delay. Currently, rural areas are not well connected with the Urban market, hindering agriculture's growth.

8. Lack of Technology

There is minimal use of technology in agriculture. The Farmer still uses archaic technology and depends on primitive ways. There has not been a significant infusion of the latest technology in agriculture. Farmers have also not been incentivized to adopt the latest technology due to financial constraints.

9. The Poor Condition of Farm Laborers

Conditions of Farm laborers are in a bad state. They received minimum profit from agriculture. This sector has not increased income. It has not raised their living standard; instead, it is declining. Disguised unemployment is present in the sector.

10. Market Issue

The market is filled with intermediaries and local traders. These middlemen have become so powerful that they have considerable control over prices. They try to gain maximum profit from the Farmer's produce. Now, the issue is becoming grave with the incoming of powerful corporate player who attempts to destabilize the market to profit from their products. In this fight, the ultimate victim is the Farmer, who faces the brunt.

Government Support to Agriculture

Problems in agriculture have deepened over time. Government is conscious of the fact that there are challenges plaguing the prospects of agriculture that need to be tackled and resolved to make the Farmer's lives prosperous and stable. It has been felt that individuals cannot solve these problems. The state's interference is needed. State also has a moral, social and economic responsibility to solve the problems of agriculture. The state cannot ignore this problem when nearly half of the population depends on agriculture for food, income, and livelihood.

The state has realized its responsibility and has taken several steps to reform agriculture. They have undertaken several concrete steps to ease the lives of farmers. Agriculture infrastructure was ramped up in that process, and many roads were built to connect rural areas to markets.

The state has endeavored to ease the life of farmers through an institutional framework like setting up NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development), ICAR (Indian Agriculture Research Institute), APMC (Agricultural Market Produce Market Committee), and Food Corporation of India. These government-run organizations try to incentivize agriculture and allied activities through their institutional framework and mechanism.

When India gained independence from the British, the Government of India abolished the Zamindari system, and permanent land settlement and distribution were carried out. However, land distribution was not satisfactory as the law had several loopholes. Using these loopholes, big landlords registered their lands in the name of their close relatives. The Government of India gives lots of subsidies on fertilizers and other agricultural activities at the exchequer's expense. On several occasions, the Government of India has been severely criticized by the international community, but still Government continues with it. The Government is very well aware that it is not the correct time to lift the subsidies. This sector needs very much support from the Government.

Due to the massive use of chemical fertilizers, the health of the soil has deteriorated severely. The Government has opened technology-enabled testing labs in the country to check the health of the soil. This type of testing helps farmers know the soil's health and is necessary he has to undertake to improve the quality of the soil. It has also helped the Farmer to help to shift to a new cropping pattern and to adopt new ways of irrigation.

Notable and Effective Government Schemes for the Agriculture:

E-NAM
The Government is making a portal that will bring all APMC mandis to one platform and establish one market for all agricultural produce. NAM stands for National Agriculture Market.
Kisan Credit Card

This scheme was launched in 1998 to provide credit so that Farmer could buy agriculture inputs like pesticides, seeds, and fertilizer and withdraw cash for their production need. Later the scope of the scheme was extended to non-farm and allied activities.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana

The scheme was introduced on 1 July 2015. The scheme aims to provide assured irrigation, improve water efficiency, and minimize water wastage. The motto of the scheme is "Har Khet Ko Paani". Some words signify the importance of the scheme "Jal Sanchay" and "Jal Sinchan".
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
The program was established to increase agricultural productivity in rainfed areas through resource management, water use efficiency, and integrated farming.
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana

It is a government-supported crop insurance program that brings multiple stakeholders into a single window.
Micro Irrigation Fund
The Government has passed a proposal to establish a dedicated Rs 5,000 crore fund to cover more land under micro irrigation.
Digital Agriculture Mission
The Government wants the Farmer to use emerging technologies like remote sensing and GIS technology, blockchain, robotics, drones, and artificial intelligence.
Unified Farmer Service Platform (UFSP)
It is a combination of application and tools, core infrastructure, and Data that allows seamless interoperability of private and public Information Technology systems in the agriculture sector throughout the nation.

Kisan Call Centre, Agri Market App, and Kisan Suvidha App are the other digital initiatives the Government introduced.

Frequently Asked Questions on Agriculture

Ques: How many different forms of farming methods are present in India?

Ans: Some of the popular farming methods present in India are:

Subsistence Farming
Organic Farming
Commercial Farming

Certain factor that determines the cultivation methods are technological advancement, geographical conditions, labor cost, and production demand. Depending upon these factors, farming is further classified into Agroforestry, farming, and horticulture.

Ques: Describe the Zaid crop by an example.

Ans: Zaid crop is summer season crops cultivated for a short time (March to June). For example, Watermelon and Cucumber.

Ques: How do you define modern agriculture?

Ans: Modern Agriculture is the involvement of advanced farming techniques and the use of sophisticated technology. It reduces costs and increases crop yield and efficiency.

Ques: Who are the richest farmers in India?

Ans: Harish Dhandev, Pramod Gautam, and Sachin Kale are the top richest Farmer in India.

Ques: What is organic farming and enlist its benefits?

Ans: Organic farming involves using natural fertilizer and traditional farming methods and doing away with chemical fertilizer.

Some of the benefits of Organic farming are:

Doing away with Chemical Fertiliser
Reduces Soil Erosion
Recycles animal waste back to the farm
Decreases nitrate leaching into groundwater and surface water

Ques: Who is regarded as the father of modern agriculture in India?

Ans: Dr. M.S. Swaminathan is regarded as the "Father of Modern Agriculture in India."

Ques: Who is regarded as the father of organic farming in India?

Ans: Subhash Palekar is India's father of organic farming.

Ques: Why agriculture's share in the economy is very low?

Ans: Some of the factors that are unevenly distributed are Irrigation, access to technology and energy facilities, debt trap, overburdened and continuous stagnation since the time of Independence.

Ques: What is the step government has taken to solve the problem of issue of Irrigation?

Ans: The Government of India has devised a plan called Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission,and many other schemes.

Ques: What are the challenges faced by the Farmer in agriculture?

Ans: Some of the challenges posed by the farmers are:

Adopting New Techniques
Rising food demand
Climate Change
Biodiversity Loss
Soil Erosion

Ques: How will future farming look like?

Ans: Future farming will involve the usage of

The massive use of drones
Aerial Images
Use of Robots
Moisture and Temperature sensors
Global Positioning System Technology

Ques: Name some profitable farming in India.

Ans: Some of the profitable farming in India are:

Dairy Farming
Poultry Farming
Organic Farming

Ques: What is called viticulture?

Ans: Viticulture involves the cultivation of grapes.

Ques: What is Zero Budget Natural Farming?

Ans: Zero Budget Natural Farming involves raising crops without fertilizer, pesticides, or other external materials.

Ques: What are the possible reasons for the farmer suicides in India?

Ans: Scholars have pointed out the following reasons related to farmers' death:

Cost of Chemicals and Seeds
The Surge in input costs
Labor cost
Costs of agricultural equipment
Distress due to loans
Lack of awareness
Lack of direct integration with the market
The water crisis may include interstate water disputes
Climate Change
Loan Waiver instead of reinvestment and restructuring method

Ques: What are the responses given by the Government to Farmer's suicides?

Ans: Some of the responses given by the Government are:

2013 diversify income sources packages
2006 relief package
Agricultural debt waiver and debt relief scheme, 2008

Ques: What is the way forward to deal with agrarian distress?

Ans: Some of the measures suggested by the experts, farmer organizations, and activists are:

Precision Farming techniques like SRI (Systematic Rice Intensification)
Institutional Financing
Cooperative farming
Community-driven awareness
Doubling farmer income
Lower fertilizer costs
Leveraging advancements in Science and Technology
Initiatives like DD Kisan, Soil Health Card, Crop Insurance program, Agro-climatic Zoning, and establishment of an organization like NABARD.

Ques: What are the agro-based industries present in India?

Ans: Some of the agro-based industries present in India are: