Gujarat BoardEnglish MediumSTD 12 CommerceEconomicsAGRICULTURE SECTOR3 Marks
Question
Explain about Agriculture Pattern.
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Answer
$1.$ Introduction:
Since ancient age Indian economy is dependent on agriculture.
India has been an agriculture oriented economy before the British rule, during the British rule even after the British rule.
During planning period, the greater emphasis was on industry service sector, still its importance in employment generation, export income etc was significant.
The contribution of this sector during planning period has decreased to $139\%$ still $49\%$ population still find employment in this sector.
It is important to assess the contribution of agricultural sector in employment, export earning, standard of living etc, at that time at present.
$2.$ The Present Situation of Agriculture In India $:(1)$ Share in National Income:
The income of agricultural sector is included in primary sector income.
Products of agricultural sector, poultry farming, animal husbandry, fishery etc, are included in this sector.
So the income of agriculture agricultural products are included in primary sector income.
As per economic survey of $201 1-12,$ contribution of agricultural sector in national income $(GDP)$ was $53.1\%$ in $1950-51\ 82$ has reduced upto $13.9\% ($at constant prices$)$ in the year $2011-12$ due to greater emphasis on industrialization since $1950.$
This fall in national income of agricultural sector is due to the speedy progress of non-agricultural sector.
During the whole planning period, the contribution of agricultural sector is decreasing.
But after $2000-01,$ its share has been decreasing rapidly.
In $2000-01,$ this share was $22.3\%$ which reduced upto $13.9\%$ in $2011-12.$
The role of service sector has been significant factor for this.
$(2)$ Employment:
It is the agricultural sector which provides maximum employment in India, at the time of independence, $72\%$ population was engaged in agriculture and allied agricultural activities $($Cattle rearing, fisheries, forest products, poultry farming etc$.)$
After independence of India the development process has become speedier, specially development of industries and service sector achieved much faster growth than agriculture sector, therefore, employment dependency on agriculture has been reduced.
In the year $2001-02$ it was $58\%$ which came to $49\%$ in the year $2014-15$ as an employment providing sector.
$(3)$ Export Income:
Indian helps our country to earn foreign exchange by exporting tea, spices, fruits etc, it helps to import necessary goods which are not produced or produced less in the country.
During the independence period, the total contribution of Indian's total export earnings of $70\%$ has been obtained from agriculture.
But due to the development process industries service sector are at the top most thus the contribution of agricultural sector in export earning has reduced.
It can be noted that in the year $2013-14,$ the contribution of agriculture in the total export earnings was $14.2\%.$
Due to globalization the restrictions on agricultural products have been removed so ample opportunities are available at global level to cope up with global demand.
$(4)$ Living Standard:
Agriculture is the basic support of the world's population.
Agriculture has continuously improved life of people in India also.
Agriculture sector produces two types of crops:
Food grains and cash crops.
All the cereals are included in food grains. Due to production of these food grains, India became self sufficient.
Cash crops are cotton, jute, ground nut, oil seeds, Sugarcane, etc. are used as raw material.
Food items are mainly included in food grain crops / and these have shown rise in production.
Present farmers are also engaged in production of vegetables, fruits, flowers etc.
Therefore, it can be said that agriculture sector is satisfying requirement of agricultural goods of people.
Average food grain availability was $395$ grams per head per day in the year $1951$ which increased to $511$ grams in the year $2013$ even there was rise in population.
Therefore it can be said that agriculture sector is satisfying requirement of people in enough quantity and due to that average life span of people is also increased.
$(5)$ Growth of Agricultural Production:
A significant increment in total agricultural production has happened in India during planning period.
Agricultural production has increased in two ways $(1)$ Increased in production per hector $(2)$ Increase in cultivable land.
The income in cultivable land was responsible for the growth of agricultural product in India during planning before green revolution.
After green revolution, the increase in per hector production was more responsible.
The comparison of increase in production of gains, pulses, sugarcane, oil seeds, cotton etc, as compared to $1950-51$ in $2013-14$ is as under:
$(1)$ The production of food grain was $51$ metric tons in $1951$ which increased to $264.4$ metric tons in $2013-14.$
That shows about $5$ times rise of it.
The country became self dependent in matter of food grain.
$(2)$ The production of pulses $8-4$ metric tons in $1950-51.$
It rose upto $19.6$ metric tons in $2013-14.$
It shown an increase of $2.5$ times.
The main reason for this is non availability of green revolution in pulse.
$(3)$ Production of Sugarcane was $69$ metric tons in $1951$ which increase upto $348$ metric tons in $2013-14.$
That also shows rise about five times.
$(4)$ The production of oil seeds was $5.1$ tons in $1951$ which rose to $32.4$ metric tons in $2013-14.$
That means a rise of $6.35$ times.
$(5)$ The production of cotton was $2.1$ metric bales in $1950-51.$
It rose to $36.5$ metric bales in $2013-14.$
That rises of $17$ times.
The main reasons were increase in cultivable level for cotton increase in per hectare production.
$(6)$ The increase in cultivable level for cash crop is an indication of change in attitude of farmer towards agriculture.
The farmers have started focusing on earning profit instead of earning only livelihood.
$(6)$ Base for Industrial Development:
In India, agriculture is base for industrial sector growth.
Agriculture sector provides required raw material to industrial sector, to do production as per capacity of industrial sector to attain possible development. For e.g. cloth, sugar, etc. industries depend on agricultural sector.
Agricultural sector gives pace to industrial development in other way also.
About $69\%$ population of India live in rural areas their main source of income is from agriculture.
Agricultural sector is the biggest consumer of industrial products.
The growth in agricultural income results in higher demand of industrial products service sector.
The rural areas are demanding industrial products like television, freeze, bike, mobile etc.
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