Agriculture has a significant role in our economy. Being the main occupation of the people of India, about sixty four percent of our workforce is employed in agriculture. Both industry and agriculture are important for the progress of country and since independence we have made great efforts in the field of industrial development. However, almost twenty nine percent of our national income still comes from agriculture. Hence, its role in our country's economy cannot be ignored.
Agriculture provides us with our very basic requirement that of food in the form of grains, vegetables, fruits and many other edibles. In addition it provides raw materials for many industries thus it not only fulfils one of our essential needs but also gives support to industries. There are many agricultural products which are exported and in return valuable foreign exchange is earned which strengthens the economic system of our country. Hence, it is important to develop and encourage agricultural sector.
Since the attainment of independence, the Government has given top priority to agriculture. Better quality of seeds and chemical fertilizers, methods of irrigation and the use of modern methods of farming and machinery have definitely increased our agricultural production. Cooperatives for marketing the agricultural produce and easy loan schemes which are made available to farmers, are also very helpful in this field. As a result of all these efforts, the growth rate between the years 1950-60 was 2.7 per cent the and 7.6 per cent in 1998-99. Food grain production has recorded a four fold rise from fifty million tonnes in 1950-51 to two hundred million tonnes estimated in 1998-99.
Though our agricultural production has increased Immensely, yet it is far from satisfactory. Progress in agriculture has been slow. If farmers produce more and get better prices for their produce the problem of rural backwardness and poverty that have plagued our country since the British rule
can be solved. The prosperity of farmers means a large market for industrial goods that in turn benefits industries also. Thus, agriculture is of supreme importance for the progress of the country. It is the real backbone of our economy, as with the prosperity of farmers, the nation prospers. Hence, agriculture must be given top priority and the condition of the farmers must be improved. Only then we can hope for a country economically advanced.
