Scope, Importance and Characteristics of Agriculture | Agriculture Optional Notes for UPSC PDF Download

What is Agriculture?

• The term "Agriculture" originates from the Latin words "ager" or "agri," signifying soil, and "culture," representing cultivation.
• Agriculture is a practical science that encompasses all facets of crop production, including horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries, forestry, and more.
• It is defined as the practice, science, and business of cultivating crops and raising livestock for economic benefit.
• In the context of art, it involves the skillful execution of farm operations, yet may lack a deeper understanding of the underlying principles behind these practices.
• As a science, it utilizes various technologies grounded in scientific principles, such as crop breeding, production techniques, economics, and more, to optimize yield and profit.
• Regarding the business aspect, while agriculture is often a way of life for rural populations, agricultural business endeavors seek to maximize net returns by effectively managing land, labor, water, and capital, while applying knowledge from various scientific disciplines to produce food, feed, fiber, and fuel.
• Mechanization has led to the commercialization of agriculture in recent years.
• Despite the dominance of industrial agriculture in the 20th century, approximately 2 billion people still depended on subsistence farming.
• Agriculture is a major source of livelihood for two-thirds of India's population, with 55% of the workforce employed directly or indirectly in the sector.
• The agricultural sector contributes 15% of India's export earnings and makes up 14-17% of the country's GDP.
• It provides raw materials for several industries, including textiles, sugar, flour mills, jute, and apparel.
• Agricultural production is a fundamental driver of food security for India's large population.
• Agriculture's allied sectors, including horticulture, animal husbandry, dairy, and fishing, play essential roles in providing sustenance and employment opportunities for India's vast population.
• Globally, agriculture employs more than one-third of the workforce, ranking second only to the service sector.
• Over recent decades, the global trend has seen a decline in the number of agricultural workers, particularly in developing countries, as smallholdings are replaced by industrial agriculture and mechanization, leading to substantial increases in crop yields.

Characteristics of Indian Agriculture

• Subsistence agriculture has been the predominant practice in India for centuries.
• Despite the growth of urbanization and industrialization, roughly 70% of the population continues to rely on agriculture, either directly or indirectly.
• Despite more than four decades of advancements like the Green Revolution and innovations in agricultural machinery and equipment, complete mechanization of agriculture remains unattained.
• India's agriculture sector still heavily depends on the monsoon for water supply. While there has been significant expansion of irrigation, only about one-third of the total cultivated land is currently irrigated, leaving two-thirds reliant on the monsoon.
• India's diverse climate, encompassing both tropical and temperate regions, allows for the cultivation of a wide variety of crops, making it one of the most agriculturally diverse countries globally.
• The primary focus of farmers across the country is the production of food crops.
• India follows three distinct agricultural/cropping seasons: Kharif, Rabi, and Zaid.
• During these seasons, specific crops are cultivated. For instance, rice is considered a Kharif crop, while wheat is typically grown in the Rabi season.

Agriculture Productivity in India

• While India has attained self-sufficiency in staple food production, its farm productivity falls short of that in countries like Brazil, the United States, and France.
• Indian wheat farms produce only about one-third of the wheat per hectare per year when compared to French wheat farms.
• India's rice productivity is less than half of that in China, and this trend extends to other staple crops in India.
• India's total factor productivity growth remains below 2% per year, while China's total factor productivity growth stands at approximately 6% per year, even though China has smallholder farmers.
• Multiple studies indicate that if India could achieve productivity levels similar to those in other countries, it could potentially eradicate hunger and malnutrition and become a significant global food source.

Branches of Agriculture

• Agronomy is the field that focuses on cultivating various crops like food crops, fodder crops, fiber crops, sugar, oilseeds, etc. Its objective is to enhance food production and develop methods to manage diseases and pests.
• Horticulture is a branch of agriculture dedicated to the cultivation of flowers, fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants, spices, condiments (including medicinal crops like opium), and beverages.
• Forestry involves the large-scale cultivation of perennial trees to provide wood, timber, rubber, and other raw materials for industrial use.
• Animal Husbandry encompasses the breeding, care, and maintenance of animals, aiming to maximize output through proper feeding and rearing practices.
• Fishery Science deals with the study of marine and inland fishes, including shrimp and prawns.
• Agricultural Engineering plays a crucial role in crop production and horticulture, especially in providing tools and implements. Its objective is to design specialized tools for improving animal husbandry and machinery for crop production.
• Home Science focuses on enhancing the application and utilization of agricultural products, believing that improved utilization leads to increased production.

Scope of Agriculture

• Agriculture holds significant importance with diverse applications in both domestic and international markets.
• In certain villages, the majority of the population is primarily engaged in agriculture, serving as the primary source of wealth with various contributions.
• Agriculture plays a leading role in the national financial system, contributing the most to national income, while manufacturing makes the smallest contribution.
• There is a direct relationship between the advanced development stage of agricultural nations and the increased contribution of agriculture to national earnings.
• In agricultural nations, a substantial portion of the population relies on agriculture for employment and livelihood.
• Rural areas primarily depend on agriculture and related activities for income, while urban areas also have a significant workforce engaged in processing and marketing agricultural products.
• The agricultural sector is primarily focused on food production, meeting the food requirements of a country's growing population. Strategic planning can help ensure self-sufficiency in food production.
• Agriculture serves as the primary source of raw materials for various industries, including cotton textiles, vegetable oils, sugar, juices, and paper production.
• Small-scale industries related to agriculture, such as ginning and pressing, power loom, handloom, rice husking, apiculture, sericulture, and fruit and vegetable processing, also contribute significantly to the economy.
• Agriculture generates revenue for the state through both direct taxation (like land revenue and agriculture income tax) and indirect taxation (sale tax and custom duty) on agricultural commodities.
• Agriculture plays a pivotal role in international trade, earning valuable foreign currency essential for a state's fiscal development. Agricultural products are major exports via various transportation modes.
• Horticulture, animal husbandry, dairy, and fisheries play a crucial role in enhancing economic conditions, as well as the health and nutrition of rural populations.
• Sustainable development of agriculture and allied sectors is vital for maintaining ecological balance.
• Agriculture promotes social, cultural, political, and economic advancement, fostering harmony and equilibrium in nature.
• Satisfactory agricultural production contributes to a nation's prosperity, harmony, health, and wealth by reducing conflicts and promoting stability.

Importance of Agriculture

Source of Livelihood

• A significant proportion of the population, around 70%, relies primarily on agriculture as their main source of income.
• This high dependency on agriculture is attributed to the limited development of non-agricultural sectors that could absorb the rapidly growing population.
• In developed countries, agriculture is not the primary source of income for the majority of the population.

Agriculture's Impact on National Income

• Agriculture contributed a substantial 48 to 60% of the gross domestic product in the first two decades.
• However, this contribution decreased to approximately 26% by 2001-2002.

Agriculture Plays a Vital Role in Job Creation

• In India, agriculture employs at least two-thirds of the workforce, as other sectors have struggled to generate sufficient job opportunities for the growing working population.

Agriculture Provides Food for the World's Growing Population

• Rapid growth in food production is driven by the pressure of labor surplus economies like India and the increasing demand for food.
• Food consumption in these countries is currently low, and even a slight rise in per capita income leads to a significant surge in food demand, signifying high income elasticity of food demand in developing countries.
• It's imperative for agriculture to consistently increase its marketed surplus of food grains to avoid a crisis, as many developing countries are grappling with this challenge and developing agriculture to meet rising food demand.

Capital Formation Contribution

• Recognizing the significance of capital formation, agriculture, being the largest industry in developing countries like India, must play a major role in increasing the capital formation rate.
• Failure to do so would impede the entire economic development process.

Raw Material Supply to Agro-based Industries

• Agriculture serves as the primary source of raw materials for various agro-based industries, including sugar, jute, cotton textiles, and vanaspati.
• The growth of these industries relies heavily on agriculture.

Industrial Product Market

• Enhancing rural purchasing power is crucial for industrial development since villages are home to two-thirds of India's population.
• After the green revolution, large farmers experienced an increase in their purchasing power due to higher income and a lower tax burden.

Influence on Internal and External Trade and Commerce

• Indian agriculture plays a vital role in both internal and external trade.
• Internal trade in food grains and other agricultural products contributes to the expansion of the service sector.

Contribution to the Government Budget

• Agriculture and related activities, such as cattle rearing, animal husbandry, poultry farming, and fishing, generate substantial revenue for both central and state governments.
• The Indian railway and state transport systems earn a significant amount from freight charges on agricultural products, both semi-finished and finished.

Labor Force Requirement

• Construction and various sectors require a large number of skilled and unskilled laborers, and agriculture in India provides this labor.

Greater Competitive Advantages

• Indian agriculture enjoys a cost advantage in several agricultural commodities in the export sector due to low labor costs and self-sufficiency in input supply.