The importance of agriculture in the Indian economy is evident by the following points:

1. Contribution to Gross Domestic Product: (GDP) Agriculture contributes about 14% to India's GDP. This share was as high as 51% in 1950-51, but has been gradually declining with the progress and development of the country.
2. Supply of wage goods: Wage goods such as wheat, rice, maize, pulses, oil, sugarcane, etc are the necessities of life. Agricultural sector in India provides wage goods to 121 crore people and 38 crore animals.
3. Employment: In India, agriculture is the principal source of employment. Over 50% of working population is either directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture for means of their livelihood.
4. Supp[er of raw material for industrlcs: Agriculture provides cotton for the textile industries, sugarcane for sugar industry, various seeds for oil industry and jute for gunnysack industry. The growth of the secondary sector is dependent on the primary sector.
5. Contrlbutlon to lnternatlonal trade: Agdcultue is the major contributor to extemal trade. India exports tea, jute, cashew nuts, tobacco, coffee, spices, etc on a large scale.
6. Instrumental in the growth of transport lndustry: Both railways and roadways are the bulk carriers of agricultural products in India. Thus, agricultural sector is a major consumer of the transport services of our country.
7. contrlbutlon to wealth of nation: In terms of fixed assets, land occupies the highest rank in India. In addition to it, a large amount is invested in irrigation projects. Thus, agricultural sector owns a large chunt of nation's wealth.

So, we can conclude that agriculture is not only an important component of the primary sector, but it also helps to sustain and develop both secondary as well as tertiary sector. Thus, it is the backbone of economy.