Unit -6
Agriculture – Cause of back wordiness of Indian Agriculture.
The process of reduce in productivity has continued within the post-independence period, as compared to the pre-1939 period. The standard yield of cereals per acre during 1946-47 to 1949-50 had declined from 619 to 565 lbs. Rangnekar found that the number of output in India declined from 0.9 metric tones in 1938-39 to 0.86 metric tones per hectare in 1951.
1. There was a mild rise in average yield per hectare.
2. There was a mild rise in area under cultivation.
3. Because of increase in area and increase in yield per hectare, total production of the crops recorded a rising trend.
(iii) Trends in Food-grains Production:
The increase in agricultural production features a crucial impact on the economic development of a country . In India, the increase within the assembly of foodgrains hasbeen given in table 2.
Trends in Production of Foodgrains
It reveals from table 2, that within the last fifty two years food-grains production has increased by about quite 3 times . the increase within the assembly of rice was fourfold while it had been over ninefold in respect of wheat. Here, it's worth noting that there exists wide variations within the assembly of food-grains.
During the course of first two five years plans, the assembly of food-grains was on the increase but within the third five year plan it's shown a declining trend. Further, within the course of three annual plans, production of food-grains has increased to a superb extent. But within the next five year plan periods, the speed of growth of agricultural production was favourable.
According to the first column of the table, the assembly of cereals was 468 lakh tones in 1949-50 which turned to double i.e. 947 lakh tones in fourth five year plan. During the sixth plan period, its production was recorded 1340 lakh tones and further 1719 lakh tones ending the last year of eighth five year plan.
The production of pulses was registered at 132 lakh tones in 1995-96 which was 110 lakh tones during first plan period. This crop witnessed very deep fluctuations during second and third plan period. Thus, total production of food-grains was recorded 648 lakh tones in first plan period which rose to 1047 lakh tones in fourth plan, 1232 lakh tones in fifth plan, 1462 lakh tones in sixth plan, 1706 lakh tones in seventh plan and 1851 lakh tones in 1995-96.
The agricultural production depends not only on the planet but also on the productivity
Of land. It shows the connection between inputs and output.
The agricultural productivity are often classified into two categories viz;
(A) Agricultural Productivity per worker.
(B) Agricultural Productivity per hectare.
A. Agricultural Productivity per Worker:
Per Worker-Agricultural Productivity: International Comparisons: The per worker labour productivity in India is low as compared to some developed countries. According to Dr. Baljeet Singh, In India per worker productivity forms 1/23 of that of U.S.A. And Japan and 1/21 of that in U.K. The low level of per-worker productivity is an indicator of backward agriculture in India.
B. Agricultural Productivity per Hectare:
C. Some International Comparison of Productivity:
No doubt per hectare productivity in India has increased after the introduction of economic planning. But, if we compare it with developed countries it seems to be very low.
Impact of worldwide global climate
Regarding trend of rice and wheat, it had been 276 lakh tones and 86 lakh tones in first plan which increased to 441 lakh tones and 218 lakh tones in fourth plan and further to 798 lakh tones and 628 lakh tones respectively in 1995- 96. During 2002-03, production of total food-grains 1742 lakh tones, pulses 111 lakh tones, rice 727 million tones and wheat 651 million tones.
This data indicates that production of food-grains has increased considerably over the years but in terms of percentage, increase in production varies from one plan period to a special plan period.
(iv) Non-Food Grains:
Production of Non-Foodgrains in IndiaProduction of Non-Foodgrains in India
The production of cotton was 30 lakh bales in 1950-51 which increased to 80 lakh bales in 1980-81, 97 lakh bales in 1991-92 and 131 lakh bales in 1995-96. Regarding jute, its production was 33 lakh bales at the start of first five year plan in 1950-51 which rose to 68 lakh bales in 1980-81, 103 lakh bales in 1990-91 but its production reduced to 89lakh bales in 1995-96.
The production of sugarcane has shown growth because it had been 570 lakh tones in 1950-51, 1520 lakh tones in 1980-81, and 2540 lakh tones in 1991-92. At the highest of eighth five year plan, its production was registered at 2829 lakh tones. Just just in case of oil seeds, production was 186 lakh tones in 1990-91 against 50 lakh tones in 1950-51, and 101 lakh tones only in 1980-81.
From 1995- 96, the assembly of oilseeds was recovered 224 lakh tones. Production of cotton, jute, sugarcane was 87,103 and 2816 lakh tones and production of oilseeds was 151 million tones only in 2002-03.
BOOKS
1. Indian Economy – Rudra Dutt & Sundarram
