Agriculture in India

Agriculture is the mainstay of the Indian economy. Agriculture sector contributes about 17.8 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP of India), while 58.2 percent of the population is dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. The agricultural output, however, depends on monsoon as nearly 60 percent of area sown is dependnet on rainfall. The production of foodgrains during 2008- 09, is estimated at 229.85 million tonnes which is higher than the production of foodgrains during 2007-08 (230.78 million tonnes). The estimated production of rice is 99.37 million tonnes while previous year it was 99.69 million tonnes. The production of wheat during 2008-09 estimated at 77.63 millon tonnes while last year’s production was 78.57 million tonnes. The production of coarse cereals estimated at 38.67 million tonnes is less than the last year’s production of 40.76 million tonnes. Sugarcane production is likely to be 289.23 million tonnes. The production of cotton in 2008-09 is estimated at 23.26 million bales of 170 kg.
HARVESTING SEASON
There are three main crop seasons, namely, kharif, rabi and summer. Major kharif crops are rice, jowar, bajra, maize, cotton, sugarcane, sesame, soyabean and groundnut. Major rabi crops are wheat, jowar, barley, gram, linseed, rapeseed and mustard. Rice, maize and groundnut are grown in summer season also.
LAND UTILISATION
Land utilisation statistics are available for 92.9 per cent of total geographical area of 3,287.3 lakh hectares. According to land use statistics available from states, area under forests had increased from 404.8 lakh hectares in 1950-51 to 695.5 lakh hectares in 2003-04. Net sown area increased from 1,187.5 lakh to 1409.6 lakh hectares during the same period. Broad cropping pattern indicates that though foodgrains have a preponderance in gross cropped area as compared to non-foodgrains, their relative share came down from 76.7 per cent during 1950-51 to 65.6 per cent during 2003-2004.
SEEDS Seeds is a critical and basic input for attaining agricultural production and productivity in different agro-climatic regions. The role of quality seed programme, came into prominence about three decades ago. The country made a small beginning with a few thousand quintals of improved seed in the early 60s. Indian seed programme largely adheres to the limited generation system for seed multiplication. The system recognises three generations, namely, breeder, foundation and certified seeds and provides adequate safeguards for quality assurance in the seed multiplication chain to maintain the purity of variety as it flows from the breeder to the farmers. :
ANIMAL HUSBANDRY Animal husbandary and Dairy development plays a prominent role in the rural economy in supplementing the income of rural  households, particularly, the landless and small and marginal farmers. India is endowed with largest livestock population in the world. It accounts for 57 percent of the world’s buffalo population and 15 percent of the cattle population.
COUNTRY OF LIVESTOCK SECTOR TO THE FOOD BASKETThe contribution of livestock sector to the food basket in the form of milk, eggs and meat has been immense in fulfilling the animal protein requirements of ever growing human population.
MILK PRODUCTION
During past five year plans, several measures have been initiated by the Government to increase the productivity of livestock, which has resulted in significant increase in milk production to the level of 10.48 crore tonnes at the end of 2007-08. India has become the largest producer of milk in the world. The per capita availability of milk is estimated to be 252 gm per day, during 2007-08.
EGG PRODUCTION Poultry development in the country has shown steady progress over the years. Egg production during 2006-07 was 5.1 crore. The estimate of egg production for 2007-08 was 53.5 billion numbers. Currently, India ranks third in egg production in the world.
WOOL PRODUCTION
The wool production in the country during 2006-07 was 4.51 crore kg. The estimate of wool production for 2007 08 was 4.4 crore kgs.
FISHEREIS
India is now the third largest producer of fish and the second largest producer of fresh water fish in the world. Fish production has increased from 41.6 lakh tonnes in 1991-92 to 71.2 lakh tonnes in 2007-08.
FERTILIZER
Fertilizer is a key input for increasing agricultural production. The consumption of chemical fertilizers during 2007-08 is estimated to be 22.570 million tonnes. To cushion the impact of decontrol of phosphatic and potassic fertilizers, a concession of Rs 1,000 per tonne on DAP and MOP and proportionate concession on complexes was provided during 1992-93 under a special scheme of concession on sale of decontrolled phosphatic and potassic fertilizers. The prices of decontrolled fertilizers were still considered high and, therefore, the concession was enhanced in subsequent years.
Food Production Foodgrains (2008-09) Food production - 22.985 crore tonne Wheat – 7.763 crore tonne Rice- 9.937 crore tonne Pulse- 1.5 crore tonne Coarse cereals- 3.867 crore tonne Cash Crops Sugarcane- 28.923 crore tonne Cotton - 232.68 lakh bales.