2. Importance Contribution to national income Increase in employment Supply of wage goods Increase in employment Agriculture and industry Agriculture and foreign trade Role in internal trade Agriculture and transport
3. Contd… Income to Govt Capital formation Source of saving Basis of economic development Social and political importance International importance
4. Agricultural Production Trends in production of food grains (LakhTonnes) Source : Economic survey 2009 – 10, Agricultural Census 2009)
5. Trends in Production of Commercial Crops Source : Economic survey 2009 – 10, Agricultural Census 2009)
6. Observations regarding productivity Agricultural production in India can be divided into two parts – Food Crops and Non – Food Crops The following conclusions can be made regarding production of FOOD CROPS and NON FOOD CROPS Increase in production – production of cereals has increased 4.7 times in the last 59 years, of pulses almost doubled, of rice 4.4 times, of wheat 12.5 times. In 1949 – 50 food grain production was 549 lakhtonnes , in 2008 – 09 it increased to 2,339 lakhtonnes. Lot of variation has been observed in agricultural productivity. Growth rate was positive in some plans and negative in others.
7. Rainfall or weather plays an important role in the production of food grains in India. 57% of Indian agriculture is rain fed Lot of regional disparities have been observed in agriculture because the production is not uniform in all states. It is high in states like Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu etc. But it is very low in states like Bihar, Orissa etc. The production of commercial crops has increased considerably. Cotton production has risen by more than 7 times, jute by 3 times, sugarcane and oil more than 5 times. Significant contribution of commercial crops in exports. During 2008-09, exports of oil cakes worth Rs 10,269 Cr, tobacco worth Rs 3,461 Cr, jute worth Rs 1,337 Cr, tea worth Rs 2,689 Cr and coffee worth Rs 2,256 Cr were made.