Question

Essay of chacteristics of small scale agriculture

Answer 1

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Here is your essay on the development of Indian Agriculture!

The agriculture sector continues to be the backbone of Indian economy contributing approximately 27.4% to the gross domestic product (GDP), and accounts for about 18% share, of total value of country’s export. The agricultural production has kept pace with the popular growth rate of 21 % per annum.



Food grain production was quite low after Independence because high-yielding area of Punjab went to Pakistan after division of India. In 1950-51 the food grain production was 51 million tonnes but it was 193.01 million tonnes during 1999-2000 resulting in a buffer stock of 35 million tonnes.

Land:

Land utilization statistics revealed that net sown area increased from 1,187.5 lakh in 1950-51 to 1,424.2 ha in 1998-99. The relative share of food grains and non-food grains in gross increased from 404.8 lakh ha to 682.8 lakh ha in the same duration.

Crops:

The 3 main crop seasons are – kharif, rabi and jayad. Major crops are rice, jowar, bajra, maize, cotton, sesame, soya bean and groundnut. Major rabi crops are wheat, jowar, barley, gram, linseed, rapeseed and mustard. Rice, maize and groundnlit are grown in the summer also.

Seeds:

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Three types of seeds, namely, breeder, foundation and certified, are recognized by the system. Indian seed programme include central and state ICAR, SAU system, Public sector, co-operate sector and private sector institutions.

National Seeds Corporation (NSC), State Farms Corporation of India (SFCI), 13 state seed corporation (SSC) and about 100 major private sector seed companies are the main components of Indian Seed, State Seed Certification Agencies (SSCAs) and 19 State Seed Testing Laboratories (SSTLs) looks after quality control and certification. The Seeds Act, 1966, provides

(1) Legislative framework for regulation of quality of seeds sold in the country.

(2) System of certification of seeds sold in India.

(3) Notification of varieties, a pre-requisite certification Administration of the Act and quality control of seeds to look after by control solved committee and its various sub-committees and Central Seed Certification Board.

Seed has been declared an essential commodity under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The Seed (Control) Order 1983, was promulgated to control and regulate the seed production and distribution. The new seed policy on seed development has been in operation since 1988.

The main aim of seed policy is to makes available the best quality seed planting material “to farmer” anywhere in the world. Plants, fruits and seeds (Regulation of import into India) Order, 1989, regulates the plant quarantine clearance. Export of seeds is liberally allowed, only certain categories of seeds and planting material are in list of restricted climate for which a license is required.

National Seeds Project III (NSP III) aimed at overall important in seed quality programme. Since 1969, the Central Seed Committee has verified 2,385 varieties of agricultural and horticultural crops.

Fertilizer:

The consumption of chemical fertilizer during 1999-2000 is estimated to be more than 14.93 million tonnes. Sharp increase in prices and introduction of bio fertilizers result in its lower consumption.

The Government of India is implementing two Sponsored schemes: (i) balanced and use of fertilizers to popularize the use of organic sources of nutrients (compost, green manure, bio fertilizers; etc., and (ii) National Project and Technology Mission on Development and Use of Bio fertilizers – to give adequate thrust to bio fertilizer production and promotion under Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

The government has issued Fertilizer Control Order, 1985. The government has been implementing a Central Sector Scheme on strengthening of Central Fertilizer Quality Control and Training Institute since Fourth Plan.

Soil and Water Conservation:

Soil and water conservation measures were launched in First Five-Year Plan. Till the end of 1995- 96, 15.22% of the treatable area had been treated in the area catchment of River Valley Project. Under Flood Prone River Scheme 10.25% area of the total treatable area had been treated till the end of 1995- 96.

Under the Seventh Five-Year Plan, a centrally-sponsored scheme of reclamation of alkali user soils was initiated in Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh. It was extended to Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

During 8th Plan Watershed Development Project in Shifting Cultivation Areas (V/DPSCA) has been initiated in north-eastern states.
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