India is a predominantly agricultural economy, with around 72% of its population employed in agriculture and related activities. Agriculture is the backbone of the economy, providing food security and other necessary inputs to India’s development. It also acts as an engine of growth and poverty reduction. It is estimated that more than half of India’s agricultural output is contributed by small and marginal farmers.
India has a unique system of agriculture which includes a variety of farming techniques, crop varieties and types of farming land. The predominant type of agriculture in India is rainfed, or dryland, farming. This is mostly due to the fact that India has a low level of irrigation infrastructure and only 20% of cultivable land is irrigated. Rainfed farming is characterised by low productivity and high risk, with significant losses due to drought and other natural disasters.
The other major type of agriculture in India is post-harvest agriculture. This includes both crop cultivation and animal husbandry. Post-harvest agriculture is important for the development of an agricultural economy, as it ensures that the surplus of the harvest is used in the most efficient way. In India, post-harvest activities are carried out by small and marginal farmers, and other agro-based rural communities. These activities include processing, marketing, and storage of food products.
Apart from these two main types of agriculture, traditional farming systems such as shifting cultivation, multi-cropping, integrated farming, and organic farming also exist in India. Traditional farming systems are a major source of livelihood for people in rural areas. They are largely independent of the inputs, technology and services of modern agriculture and provide food security to the rural population.
In addition, contract farming is also an important type of agriculture in India. This type of farming involves a contract between a producer and a buyer, in which the buyer agrees to purchase a certain quantity of a crop from a producer at a pre-determined price. This type of farming helps small and marginal farmers to gain access to multiple markets and stable markets and margins.
In conclusion, the predominant type of agriculture in India is rainfed or dryland farming, followed by post-harvest activities and contract farming. Other types of agriculture, such as traditional farming systems, are also important for rural livelihoods and food security. In order to take India’s agricultural sector to the next level, the government needs to invest in developing better and more productive irrigation systems, improve access to markets and credit, and support traditional farming systems.
Irrigation Systems
To improve agriculture productivity in India, the government needs to invest in developing better and more efficient irrigation systems. To achieve this, the government needs to focus on improving irrigation infrastructure, such as reservoirs and canals, in areas that are vulnerable to drought and floods. Further, the government must also focus on the development and improvement of small-scale irrigation systems, such as sprinklers and shallow tube-wells, to make water accessible to farmers. Additionally, the government needs to invest in developing irrigation technologies that are cost-effective and help small farmers to manage their crop cycles in a more efficient manner. This could also help to improve agriculture productivity in India.
The government must also ensure access to efficient irrigation technologies such as water pumps and sprinklers to farmers, especially small and marginal farmers. Further, to ensure greater access to water, the government should also focus on developing water-saving techniques and technologies, such as the use of drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting. These technologies help farmers to save water and improve their crop yields.
To boost agricultural productivity, the government needs to invest in creating better irrigation infrastructure and improve access to modern irrigation technologies. The government should also focus on improving access to markets and credit so that farmers can avail more efficient and cost-effective inputs, and make use of market forces to increase agricultural productivity.
Markets and Credit Access
For farmers to effectively increase their agricultural productivity, they must have access to markets and credit. The government should invest in creating better market infrastructure and linkages to improve access to markets for farmers. This would enable farmers to get better prices for their produce and access to more efficient and cost-effective inputs. In addition, the government should also provide credit and other financial services to farmers to help them purchase agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilizer, and equipment.
To make access to markets and credit easier, the government should focus on the establishment and strengthening of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). An FPO is a collective of farmers which produce and market agricultural produce, and provides services such as marketing and credit. This would help small and marginal farmers to gain access to organized markets, thereby enabling them to receive better prices for their produce and access to inputs at low costs.
Additionally, the government should also focus on providing access to modern technologies and agricultural practices which can help to improve agricultural productivity. These could include access to hybrid seeds, improved fertilizer and pesticide management, mechanization, precision farming, and other technologies. This would help farmers to increase productivity and improve their incomes.
Traditional Farming Systems
In addition to modern inputs and practices, traditional farming systems are also important for food security in India. Traditional farming systems such as multicropping, shifting cultivation, integrated farming, and organic farming play a major role in providing food security to the rural population. In order to ensure the conservation of the traditional farming systems and their efficacy, the government needs to take appropriate policy and programmatic interventions.
The government needs to focus on reviving and conserving traditional agricultural practices and inputs. This should include the conservation and promotion of biodiverse crop varieties, the development of sustainable and regenerative farming systems, and the promotion of agroforestry and soil fertility conservation practices. The government should also focus on developing and implementing policies to promote these systems, such as the creation of community-managed seed banks, and the establishment of organic farming certification standards.
The government should also focus on supporting traditional farming practices through the provision of incentives and subsidies to traditional farmers. This should include the provision of access to credit, inputs and other supports, as well as the implementation of market interventions and policies for the promotion of traditional farming products. Further, the government should also focus on creating awareness and providing education on the benefits of traditional farming systems to farmers and the general public.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the predominant type of agriculture in India is rainfed or dryland farming, followed by post-harvest activities and contract farming. To improve agricultural productivity and ensure food security in India, it is essential for the government to invest in developing better and more efficient irrigation systems, improve access to markets and credit, and support traditional farming systems. These measures will help small and marginal farmers to increase their incomes and improve the overall productivity of the agricultural sector in India.
