Agricultural
Agriculture is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock in order to provide facilities the human beings. In the rise of the sedentary human lifestyle agriculture was the key development. The cultivation of plant and food grains began years ago in order to provide food to the city population. Agriculture is the main need for the people to live in the society. Agriculture is the main source of livelihood; it provides a source for the people to earn. Most of the population in the rural areas is dependent on agriculture as their main source of income.
The development of agriculture enables human civilization to grow rapidly. This agriculture that was started by hunting and gathering has now reached the stage of cultivation and industrial form of agriculture also.
The major agricultural products are broadly grouped into foods, fibres, fuels, and raw materials. Over one-third of the world’s workers are employed in agriculture and after that to the service sector.
Commercial farming is when farmers grow crops or rear animals for economic activity. Commercial farming needs to be practised on a large scale with more efficiency. The goal of the farmer is to earn profits from farming, hence the production and area of production need to be on a larger scale.
Due to the large production in commercial farming and despite its major benefits, it is a bit worrisome as it includes lots of fertilisers, pesticides, weed killers, and other sorts of chemicals.
Primitive farming or also known as simple subsistence farming (farming for the farm-family only) is the oldest form of agriculture and is still prevalent in some areas of the world. Primitive farming enabled people to take a step further on the economic ladder by learning the art of domesticating plants.
The Indian government has introduced a number of agricultural reforms in recent years, with the aim of making the agricultural sector more competitive and efficient. These reforms are expected to have a positive impact on agriculture in India, by increasing production, reducing prices, and improving the lives of farmers.
Concept of agricultural reforms in India
Agricultural reforms in India are changes made to the agricultural sector of the Indian economy. These reforms have been implemented over the years in an attempt to improve productivity, efficiency, and market access. They have also been aimed at addressing social and environmental concerns.
Some of the main agricultural reforms that have been implemented in India include:
Land reforms: These reforms aim to change the way land is owned and used in India. They have included redistributing land from large landowners to small farmers, and they have also included changing the rules about who can own land.
Market reforms: These reforms aim to make agricultural markets in India more efficient. They have included removing price controls, and they have also included opening up agricultural markets to foreign competition.
Technological reforms: These reforms aim to introduce new technologies to the agricultural sector in India. They have included the development of new seeds, fertilizers, or pesticides, and they have also included the adoption of new farming practices.
Institutional reforms: These reforms aim to improve the way that agricultural policies are made and implemented in India. They have included strengthening the role of agricultural research and extension services, and they have also included improving the governance of agricultural markets.
Agriculture and its Importance in India: Agriculture is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. It is one of the oldest and most important industries in the world. In India, agriculture is a major source of livelihood for about 58% of the population and contributes to about 17-18% of the country’s GDP.
Challenges facing Indian agriculture
Low productivity: Indian agriculture is characterized by low productivity. This is due to a number of factors, including poor irrigation facilities, lack of access to modern technology, and fragmented landholdings.
Inefficiency: Indian agriculture is also inefficient. This is due to a number of factors, including the use of outdated farming practices, the lack of access to credit, and the high cost of inputs.
Volatility: Indian agriculture is also volatile. This is due to factors such as weather conditions, crop diseases, and fluctuations in market prices.
Most Recent Agricultural sector reforms in India
E-NAM (Electronic National Agriculture Market) is a pan-India electronic trading platform for agricultural commodities. It was launched by the Government of India in 2016 and is operated by the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED).
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)
The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) is a central sector scheme launched in 2015 with a vision to provide secure and timely irrigation to 100 million hectares of agricultural land by 2024.
Here are some of the key benefits of the PMKSY:
- Increased crop productivity
- Increased farmers’ incomes
- Reduced risk of crop failure
- Improved water conservation
- Improved environmental sustainability
- Enhanced rural livelihood.
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
The Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) is a central sector scheme launched in 2007 with a vision to promote traditional agriculture and enhance farmers’ income. The scheme provides farmers with training, inputs, and assured purchase guarantee for traditional agriculture.
Here are some of the key benefits of the PKVY:
- Increased income for farmers
- Increased productivity of crops
- Improved environmental sustainability
- Enhanced rural livelihoods
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is a crop insurance scheme launched by the Government of India in 2016. The scheme provides insurance coverage to farmers against crop losses due to natural disasters, such as drought, flood, hailstorm, and pest infestation.
Here are some of the key features of the PMFBY:
- The scheme is mandatory for all farmers who cultivate notified crops in notified areas.
- The premium for the scheme is shared between the government and the farmers.
- Farmers are insured against crop losses up to 100% of the insured value.
- Farmers need to report crop losses to the insurance company within 30 days of the loss.
- The insurance company will then assess the loss and pay the farmer the insured amount.
PM-KISAN (Kisan Samman Nidhi) Yojana
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme is a government of India scheme that provides financial assistance of ₹6,000 per year to eligible small and marginal farmers, in three equal installments of ₹2,000 each. The scheme was launched on February 24, 2019, and is expected to benefit about 125 million farmers.
The benefits of the PM-KISAN scheme are:
- It will help to increase the income of farmers.
- It will help farmers to grow and sell their crops.
- It will help farmers to become self-reliant.
●It will help to reduce poverty among farmers.
PM-KISAN Maan Dhan Yojana
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (PM-Kisan-MKY) is a pension scheme for farmers in India. It was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 August 2019. The scheme is aimed at providing a monthly pension of Rs.3,000 to farmers who are at least 18 years old and have less than 2 hectares of land. To be eligible for the scheme, farmers must have a Jan Dhan account and aadhaar card.
The scheme is funded by the central government and the state governments. The central government will contribute Rs.2,000 per month to the pension fund, while the state governments will contribute Rs.1,000 per month. The pension will be paid to farmers on a monthly basis.
The scheme is a welcome step by the government to provide social security to farmers. It will help to improve the lives of farmers and their families.
Here are some of the benefits of the PM-Kisan-MKY scheme:
- It will provide a monthly pension to farmers.
- It will help to improve the lives of farmers and their families.
- It will reduce poverty among farmers.
- It will encourage farmers to stay on their land.
- It will help to increase agricultural production.
The PM-Kisan-MKY scheme is a significant step by the government to improve the lives of farmers. It is a well-designed scheme that will have a positive impact on the agricultural sector.