Situation of Indian Agriculture: Historical Background and Current Status

1. Historical Background

**a. Pre-Independence Agriculture:

• Traditional Farming: Agriculture was predominantly subsistence-oriented with traditional farming methods. Productivity was low, and most farmers had small plots of land.
• Colonial Exploitation: The British colonial period saw the exploitation of agriculture for revenue purposes, with little investment in improving farming techniques or infrastructure.

**b. Post-Independence Agriculture:

• Green Revolution (1960s-1970s): A major agricultural transformation occurred with the introduction of high-yielding variety seeds, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation infrastructure. This led to significant increases in crop productivity, especially for wheat and rice.
• Agricultural Policies: The government introduced various policies to support agriculture, including price supports, subsidies, and credit facilities. The focus was on increasing productivity and self-sufficiency in food grains.

2. Current Status

**a. Agricultural Productivity:

• Diverse Cropping Patterns: India has diversified its cropping patterns, with significant production of cereals, pulses, oilseeds, fruits, and vegetables. However, productivity levels vary by region and crop.
• Regional Disparities: There are disparities in agricultural productivity and development across different regions of India. States like Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh have high productivity, while others face challenges.

**b. Challenges Faced:

• Climate Change: Agriculture is highly vulnerable to climate change, with issues such as erratic monsoons, droughts, and floods affecting crop yields and livelihoods.
• Water Scarcity: The overexploitation of groundwater and inadequate irrigation infrastructure contribute to water scarcity, impacting agricultural productivity.
• Soil Degradation: Soil erosion, depletion of nutrients, and loss of soil fertility are concerns that affect long-term agricultural sustainability.
• Farmer Distress: Issues like inadequate income, high input costs, and debt burdens have led to farmer distress and suicides in some regions.

**c. Government Initiatives:

• National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): Aims to promote sustainable agricultural practices and improve soil health and productivity.
• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): Provides insurance coverage to farmers against crop losses due to natural calamities, pests, and diseases.
• Doubling Farmers' Income: The government’s strategy to double farmers' income by 2022 focuses on improving productivity, income support, and market access.

**d. Technological Advancements:

• Digital Agriculture: Initiatives like the eNAM (National Agriculture Market) platform and various apps provide farmers with market information, weather updates, and advisory services.
• Precision Farming: The adoption of precision farming techniques and modern technologies aims to improve productivity and resource use efficiency.

Summary Table

Aspect	Details
Land Reforms: Historical Background	Abolition of Zamindari, tenancy reforms, land ceiling acts, redistribution efforts
Land Reforms: Current Status	Progress in abolition of Zamindari, uneven implementation of tenancy and land ceiling laws, ongoing challenges in land records and acquisition
Agriculture: Historical Background	Pre-independence subsistence farming, Green Revolution, agricultural policy focus post-independence
Agriculture: Current Status	Diverse cropping patterns, regional disparities, challenges from climate change, water scarcity, soil degradation, farmer distress
Government Initiatives	NMSA, PMFBY, Doubling Farmers' Income strategy, digital agriculture, precision farming