In the pre-Independence period, and also during the period just after Independence, Indian agriculture was characterised by subsistence farming. Under this system, the small landholdings of farmers enabled them to produce just enough to fulfill the needs of their families and to provide seeds for the next sowing season. The farmers did not sell their produce in the market.
However, after Independence, the government introduced a number of reforms, such as abolition of zamindari system, consolidation of landholdings, etc which led to substantial increase in agricultural output and led to commercialisation of agriculture. The farmers started selling their produce in the market for money. This led to improvement in their living conditions.
However, This also proved to be insufficient as agricultural infrastructure was not enough to enable agricultural activity all round the year. This led to the need for encouraging diversification of non-farm activities such as animal husbandry, fishing, etc. These activities helped the farmers to supplement their earning. The value which is highlighted are the attempts to improve the living standards of the farmers.