Introduction

1. The net sown area is 141 million hectares. Per capita land holdings – 2 ha. World average – 2 ha.
2. British-era land revenue system led to fragmented holdings, Zamindari systems, domination of moneylenders, large landholdings, and landless laborers were exploited.
3. After independence land reforms focused on the elimination of intermediaries, tenancy reforms, the ceiling on holdings, cooperative farming, land to the tiller, preventing further fragmentation, and consolidation of holdings.
4.  However, only southern states and Punjab, Haryana, and Maharashtra have been partially successful another state still facing problems of exploitation by intermediaries.

Agro-climatic planning:

Farming is based on the suitability of the climate of the place and the physio-graphical situation of the place. Agro-climatic divisions of the country are based on climate, soil, water availability, and terrain.

Objectives:

1. Maximizing productivity

1. Agro practices should be suitable
2. Technology should be used

2. Conservation of resources

1. Water use efficiency
2. Choice of crops

3. Economic benefits to farmers.

1. Diversification within agriculture
2. Non-crop options.

Irrigation issues:

Types of irrigation:

1. Canal [30%] – oldest method of irrigation. But easy to construct in northern plains than on peninsular plateau. But efficiency is very low. Problems of canals are high seepage, evaporation losses, and silt. Also, not all farmers can afford field application channels from the canal.
2. Tube wells [60%] – most popular technique as it can be used in any region. No additional infrastructure or evaporation losses. But can lead to overuse and deplete groundwater resources.
3. Tank [4%] – artificial ponds of 3 – 4 ha and more are located in southern India and the peninsular plateau. These too are susceptible to evaporation losses.

Command area development program: [Min of Water resources]

1. Development of on-field infrastructure
2. Supply of improved seeds, fertilizers
3. Development of agro-credit infrastructure and services
4. Post-harvest infrastructure development and forming Paani panchayats.

Schemes for irrigation:

1. Neeranchal –  watershed development in the country [Min of rural development]
2. PM Krishi Sinchayi yojana –  expedite small and major irrigation projects [Min of agriculture]

Green revolution:

Launched in 1965-66 as high yielding variety program by Norman Borlaug. M. S. Swaminathan brought H.Y.V seeds to India.

Objectives:

1.  Manage food crisis
2.  Achieve self-sufficiency in agriculture
3.  Modernize agriculture
4.  Develop Agro-industry interface

Phase 1: Modernize agriculture practices

        Use of H.Y.V seeds, chemical fertilizers, mechanization, pesticides, irrigation.

Phase 2: Crop specific and region-specific

        Target wheat crop and region Punjab, Haryana, and western UP.

Benefits of the green revolution in India:

1.  Not a single incidence of famine after the green revolution
2.  Productivity increased four times after 4 decades.
3.  Tube well revolution, agro income increased.
4.  Development of cold storage infrastructure, fertilizer industries, irrigated lands, and markets.

Disadvantages of the green revolution:

1.  Crop specific and region-specific. The increased disparity of non-wheat crops.
2.  Rich farmers became rich and the green revolution didn’t reach small, poor farmers outside the western zone like the northeast, east UP, and Bengal.
3.  Extensive use of fertilizers and over-irrigation led to salinity, and erosion.

The green revolution needs to spread to other areas. This would need modification of technologies and selection of crops. Need for the creation of infrastructure, regulations, monitoring, and awareness. Also, focus on all crops and non-agro activities too. Avoidance of input-intensive agriculture practices.

Government Programs

National food security mission:

The Ministry of agriculture is handling it. It was started under the 12^th 5-year plan in 2007. It has 5 components:

1.  Rice – 10 million tons production targeted
2.  Wheat– 8 million tons production targeted
3.  Pulses– 4 million tons production targeted
4.  Millets– 3 million tons production targeted
5.  Commercial crops

Farm field schools to be set up for:

1.  Farm mechanization
2.  Resource conservation technique
3.  Efficient water application tools
4.  Cropping system based training

Agriculture extension:

1. Agriculture education and awareness
2. Farmer scientist linkage
3. Training and demonstration
4. Veterinary education and research
5. Information dissemination
6. Training and capacity building
7. Agro education
8. Entrepreneurship skill development
9. Arya – create opportunities for youth in agro.

Finance:

1. Kisan credit card scheme – gives crop loans, term loans, and consumer loans. Can be used as an ATM card. Insurance against death and disability is provided.
2. National crop insurance program: Available for all farmers and against all calamities and it will cover all crops. 10% subsidy for small and medium farmers. Subsumed schemes for individual crops.
3. NABARD’s initiative:
4. The long term rural credit fund: refinance cooperative banks and regional rural banks
5. Price stabilization fund – mitigate price volatility in agriculture markets.

Markets:

1. Amend APMC act to amend direct contract farming.
2. Kisan mandi to allow direct selling of agriculture products to consumers
3. FPO- direct marketing of produce. Cooperative marketing
4. Unified agriculture market – eliminate interstate barriers for selling.
5. Storage augmentation: Private entrepreneur guarantee scheme by FCI with guaranteed full capacity storage for 10 years to a godown constructed by an individual entrepreneur.
6. Finance: State warehouse corporation and central warehouse corporation registered warehouses can issue warehouse negotiable receipts to farmers who store produce in these godowns. These receipts can be used to obtain loans at commercial rates or to trade at commodity exchanges.
7. The forward market commission set up AGMARKNET, an online portal to give real-time prices of agriculture commodities.