Problems and prospects of Indian Agriculture, Plan period Position

Problems and Prospects of Indian Agriculture

Problems:

• Fragmented Land Holdings:
  • Indian agriculture is characterized by small and fragmented landholdings, making it difficult to achieve economies of scale, adopt modern farming techniques, and increase productivity.
• Dependence on Monsoons:
  • A large portion of Indian agriculture is rain-fed, making it highly vulnerable to monsoon variability. This leads to inconsistent crop yields and affects farmers’ incomes.
• Low Technological Adoption:
  • There is limited use of advanced technology and modern agricultural practices. Traditional farming methods dominate, leading to lower productivity and efficiency.
• Soil Degradation:
  • Overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has resulted in soil degradation, affecting soil health and fertility. This, in turn, reduces crop yields.
• Inadequate Infrastructure:
  • Poor rural infrastructure, including inadequate storage facilities, transportation networks, and market access, hampers agricultural productivity and profitability.
• Credit and Finance:
  • Farmers face difficulties in accessing affordable credit and insurance. High-interest rates and dependence on informal moneylenders exacerbate their financial woes.
• Water Management:
  • Inefficient water use and lack of proper irrigation facilities lead to water scarcity and poor water management, affecting crop production.
• Policy Issues:
  • Inefficient policies, such as poorly targeted subsidies and support mechanisms, fail to reach the intended beneficiaries, leading to inefficiencies in resource allocation.
• Market Fluctuations:
  • Agricultural markets are often characterized by price volatility, which impacts farmers’ incomes and financial stability.

Prospects:

• Technological Advancements:
  • Adoption of biotechnology, precision farming, and digital agriculture can enhance productivity and efficiency.
• Irrigation Projects:
  • Expansion of irrigation facilities and improved water management can reduce dependence on monsoons and stabilize crop yields.
• Government Initiatives:
  • Various schemes like PM-KISAN, Soil Health Card, and e-NAM aim to support farmers through direct income support, improved soil health management, and better market access.
• Diversification:
  • Diversifying into high-value crops, organic farming, and horticulture can increase farmers’ incomes and reduce risks associated with monocropping.
• Agri-Exports:
  • Increasing opportunities in agri-exports can provide new markets and higher prices for agricultural products.
• Infrastructure Development:
  • Improvement in rural infrastructure, including roads, storage facilities, and cold chains, can reduce post-harvest losses and improve market access.
• Policy Reforms:
  • Reforms in land leasing, contract farming, and agricultural marketing can create a more conducive environment for agricultural growth.

Agriculture Development During Plan Periods

The First Plan (1951-56)

• Objectives:
  • Address food crisis and shortage of industrial raw materials.
  • Improve infrastructure for agriculture and irrigation.
• Achievements:
  • Food grains production target exceeded (66 million tonnes against a target of 62 million tonnes).
  • Community Development Programme launched.
  • Land policy reforms aimed at eliminating exploitation and extending security of tenure.

The Second Plan (1956-61)

• Objectives:
  • Shifted focus from agriculture to heavy industry.
• Results:
  • Reduced outlay on agriculture from 31% to 20%.
  • Poor performance in agricultural production due to miscalculation and poor implementation.

The Third Plan (1961-66)

• Objectives:
  • Achieve self-sufficiency in food grains.
  • Increase agricultural production for industry and export.
• Results:
  • Initial success with a record output of 89 million tonnes of food grains.
  • Setbacks due to drought and wars in the final years.
  • Introduction of High Yielding Varieties Programme (HYVP) and Multiple Cropping Programme in 1966-67.

The Fourth Plan (1969-74)

• Objectives:
  • Growth with social justice.
  • Focus on technology and self-sufficiency.
• Results:
  • Record food grains production (108 million tonnes in 1970-71).
  • Poor monsoons led to crop failures and inflation in later years.
  • Emphasis on helping weaker sections and backward areas.

The Fifth Plan (1974-79)

• Objectives:
  • Renewed emphasis on agriculture.
  • Targets for minor irrigation and high-yielding varieties.
• Results:
  • Initial setbacks but improved performance in later years.
  • Plan cut short by one year by the Janata Government.

The Sixth Plan (1980-85)

• Objectives:
  • Bridging the gap between actual and potential yields.
• Results:
  • Focus on removing existing constraints and improving technology and services.

The Seventh Plan (1985-90)

• Objectives:
  • Achieve an agricultural growth rate of 4% p.a.
  • Major programs for rice, oilseeds, and watershed development.
• Results:
  • Growth rate of 3.2% p.a.
  • Area under irrigation increased.

The Eighth Plan (1992-97)

• Objectives:
  • Growth and diversification of agriculture.
  • Achieve self-sufficiency in food and generate surplus for exports.
• Results:
  • Significant rise in investment in agriculture and rural development.
  • Achieved growth rate of 4.7% despite shortfall in planned investment.

The Ninth Plan (1997-2002)

• Objectives:
  • Agriculture-led growth.
  • Targeted growth rate of 4.5% p.a. and food production of 230 million tonnes.
• Results:
  • Shortfall in food grains production but no crisis due to buffer stocks.
  • Actual growth rate of 2.1% p.a.

The Tenth Plan (2002-07)

• Objectives:
  • Reverse slowdown in growth.
  • Push agricultural growth rate to 4% during the Plan period.
• Results:
  • Allocated Rs 3,05,055 crore to agriculture and irrigation.
  • Growth rate of 2.3% due to poor monsoons.
  • Reduction in agriculture’s share of GDP.

The Eleventh Plan (2007-12) and Second Green Revolution

• Objectives:
  • Achieve 4% agricultural growth rate.
  • Improve scale and quality of agricultural reforms.
• Strategies:
  • Doubling irrigated areas.
  • Improving water management and crop diversification.
  • Easy credit access and land reforms.
• Results:
  • Emphasis on corporate investment and contract farming.
  • Support for National Commission on Farmers’ recommendations.
  • Call for a ‘Second’ green revolution focusing on sustainable productivity.

Important Facts:

• Green Revolution:
  • Introduced during the mid-1960s, significantly increased food grain production through high-yielding varieties, improved irrigation, and modern farming practices.
• Economic Impact:
  • Agriculture remains a significant sector, employing a large portion of the population and contributing to GDP.
• Future Outlook:
  • Continued focus on technology adoption, infrastructure development, and policy reforms is essential for sustained agricultural growth.