agriculture of india essay

Essay on Agriculture for Students and Children

500+ words essay on agriculture.

Agriculture is one of the major sectors of the Indian economy. It is present in the country for thousands of years. Over the years it has developed and the use of new technologies and equipment replaced almost all the traditional methods of farming. Besides, in India, there are still some small farmers that use the old traditional methods of agriculture because they lack the resources to use modern methods. Furthermore, this is the only sector that contributed to the growth of not only itself but also of the other sector of the country.

Growth and Development of the Agriculture Sector

India largely depends on the agriculture sector. Besides, agriculture is not just a mean of livelihood but a way of living life in India. Moreover, the government is continuously making efforts to develop this sector as the whole nation depends on it for food.

For thousands of years, we are practicing agriculture but still, it remained underdeveloped for a long time. Moreover, after independence, we use to import food grains from other countries to fulfill our demand. But, after the green revolution, we become self-sufficient and started exporting our surplus to other countries.

Besides, these earlier we use to depend completely on monsoon for the cultivation of food grains but now we have constructed dams, canals, tube-wells, and pump-sets. Also, we now have a better variety of fertilizers, pesticides, and seeds, which help us to grow more food in comparison to what we produce during old times.

With the advancement of technology, advanced equipment, better irrigation facility and the specialized knowledge of agriculture started improving.

Furthermore, our agriculture sector has grown stronger than many countries and we are the largest exporter of many food grains.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Significance of Agriculture

It is not wrong to say that the food we eat is the gift of agriculture activities and Indian farmers who work their sweat to provide us this food.

In addition, the agricultural sector is one of the major contributors to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and national income of the country.

Also, it requires a large labor force and employees around 80% of the total employed people. The agriculture sector not only employees directly but also indirectly.

Moreover, agriculture forms around 70% of our total exports. The main export items are tea, cotton, textiles, tobacco, sugar, jute products, spices, rice, and many other items.

Negative Impacts of Agriculture

Although agriculture is very beneficial for the economy and the people there are some negative impacts too. These impacts are harmful to both environments as the people involved in this sector.

Deforestation is the first negative impact of agriculture as many forests have been cut downed to turn them into agricultural land. Also, the use of river water for irrigation causes many small rivers and ponds to dry off which disturb the natural habitat.

Moreover, most of the chemical fertilizers and pesticides contaminate the land as well as water bodies nearby. Ultimately it leads to topsoil depletion and contamination of groundwater.

In conclusion, Agriculture has given so much to society. But it has its own pros and cons that we can’t overlook. Furthermore, the government is doing his every bit to help in the growth and development of agriculture; still, it needs to do something for the negative impacts of agriculture. To save the environment and the people involved in it.

FAQs about Essay on Agriculture

Q.1 Name the four types of agriculture? A.1 The four types of agriculture are nomadic herding, shifting cultivation, commercial plantation, and intensive subsistence farming.

Q.2 What are the components of the agriculture revolution? A.2 The agriculture revolution has five components namely, machinery, land under cultivation, fertilizers, and pesticides, irrigation, and high-yielding variety of seeds.

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

• Travelling Essay
• Picnic Essay
• Our Country Essay
• My Parents Essay
• Essay on Favourite Personality
• Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
• Essay on Knowledge is Power
• Essay on Gurpurab
• Essay on My Favourite Season
• Essay on Types of Sports

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the App

Essay on Agriculture in India

Students are often asked to write an essay on Agriculture in India in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Agriculture in India

Introduction.

Agriculture in India is a significant part of its economy, providing employment to millions. It includes growing crops, raising livestock, and producing goods like wool, eggs, and milk.

Major Crops

Rice, wheat, and pulses are the main crops. India is the world’s largest producer of spices and the second-largest producer of rice and wheat.

Role in Economy

Agriculture contributes significantly to India’s GDP and provides raw materials for many industries. It also plays a crucial role in food security.

Despite its importance, Indian agriculture faces issues like low productivity, lack of modern technology, and climate change impacts.

250 Words Essay on Agriculture in India

Historical overview.

Agriculture in India dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization era. Over millennia, it has evolved, shaping the country’s economy, society, and culture. Today, India’s agricultural sector employs over 50% of the nation’s workforce, highlighting its significance.

Modern Agriculture

In the modern era, Indian agriculture has witnessed a substantial transformation. The advent of Green Revolution in the 1960s, characterized by the introduction of high-yielding variety (HYV) seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation facilities, revolutionized the sector. This led to a significant increase in the production of major crops such as wheat and rice.

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite its strides, the sector faces numerous challenges. These include dependency on unpredictable monsoon rains, small landholding sizes, outdated farming practices, and lack of access to credit and modern technology. However, these challenges also present opportunities for growth and innovation.

The future of Indian agriculture lies in sustainable and technology-driven practices. Precision agriculture, using AI and IoT, can optimize inputs and increase crop yield. Moreover, the government’s focus on doubling farmers’ income by 2022 can act as a catalyst for the adoption of modern farming techniques.

In conclusion, agriculture in India, with its rich history and potential for growth, remains a vital sector. By overcoming challenges and embracing technology, it can ensure food security and contribute significantly to the nation’s economic growth.

500 Words Essay on Agriculture in India

The significance of agriculture in india.

India’s agriculture sector plays a pivotal role in its socio-economic fabric. It is not only the largest employment sector but also a significant contributor to the national GDP. The sector is instrumental in achieving food security, providing raw materials for various industries, and contributing to export earnings.

Types of Crops Cultivated

India’s climate diversity allows for the cultivation of a wide range of crops. The country is a leading producer of staples like wheat and rice. Other major crops include pulses, oilseeds, sugarcane, cotton, jute, and tea. India also has a thriving horticulture sector, producing fruits, vegetables, and spices in abundance.

Challenges in Indian Agriculture

Government initiatives for agricultural development.

The Indian government has undertaken various initiatives to boost agricultural productivity and improve farmers’ livelihoods. These include the Green Revolution, which significantly increased food grain production, and the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, providing income support to small and marginal farmers. Additionally, the government has introduced several schemes for crop insurance, irrigation, and soil health improvement.

Future of Agriculture in India

The future of Indian agriculture lies in sustainable and technology-driven practices. Precision agriculture, using AI and IoT, can optimize resource use and boost yields. Biotechnology can offer solutions to pest control and climate resilience. Furthermore, strengthening the agri-supply chain and improving market linkages can ensure better price realization for farmers.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

UPSC Coaching, Study Materials, and Mock Exams

Enroll in ClearIAS UPSC Coaching Join Now Log In

Call us: +91-9605741000

Indian Agriculture: Farming Types, Features and Challenges

Last updated on October 31, 2023 by ClearIAS Team

India has one of the largest plain areas of the world-the Indo-Gangetic plain which is immensely fertile.

India has varieties of climatic conditions and soil types .

These physical variations along with factors like availability of irrigation, use of machinery, modern agricultural inputs like High Yielding Varieties (HYV) of seeds, insecticides, and pesticides have played their important roles in the evolution of different farming practices in the Indian agriculture sector.

Table of Contents

Types of farming in India

Some of the major types of farming are discussed below.

i) Subsistence farming:

The majority of farmers in India practice subsistence farming- farming for their consumption. The entire production is largely consumed by the farmers and their families and they do not have any surplus to sell in the market.

In this type of farming, landholdings are small and fragmented; cultivation techniques are primitive and simple. There is a total absence of modern equipment like tractors and farm inputs like chemical fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides. In this farming, farmers mostly cultivate cereals along with oilseeds, pulses, vegetables, and sugarcane.

UPSC CSE 2025: Study Plan ⇓

(1) ⇒ UPSC 2025: Prelims cum Mains

(2) ⇒ UPSC 2025: Prelims Test Series

(3) ⇒ UPSC 2025: CSAT

Note: To know more about ClearIAS Courses (Online/Offline) and the most effective study plan, you can call ClearIAS Mentors at +91-9605741000, +91-9656621000, or +91-9656731000.

Subsistence farming is further classified into:

Primitive subsistence agriculture is practised on patches of land with the help of primitive tools like simple digging tools and community or family labour. This type of farming is monsoon depended along with the fertility of the soil and other environmental conditions. Examples of such types are shifting agriculture and nomadic herding.

• Shifting agriculture is practised in thickly forested regions like the Amazon basin, tropical Africa, parts of southeast Asia, and northeast India. These areas receive heavy rainfall hence the vegetation regenerates quickly.
• A patch of land is cleared by felling if tress and burning them. The ashes are then mixed with the soil and crops like maize, yam, potatoes, and cassava are grown. The land is abandoned once fertility is reduced.
• nomadic herding is practised in the semi-arid and arid regions of Sahara, Central Asia, and some parts of India like Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir.
• Herdsmen move from place to place with their animals for fodder and water, along defined routes and such movement arises due to seasonal changes. Animals like sheep, camel, yak, and goats are most commonly reared.

Intensive subsistence agriculture is done on small lands with simple tools and more labour. The produce is enough for local consumption and to be sold outside. The sunny climate and fertile soil for most of the year permit the cultivation of more than one crop annually on the same plot. Rice, wheat, maize, pulses, and oilseeds are generally cultivated.

ii) Intensive and Extensive farming

The basic difference between these two types of farming is the amount of production per unit of land. In comparison with temperate areas of the USA, Canada, India do not practice extensive cultivation.

When a large patch of land is used for cultivation then we call it extensive farming. Here, total production may be high due to the larger area but per unit are production is low.

Intensive Farming records high production per unit of land. An example of intensive cultivation is in Kerala where the availability of land for cultivation is very limited.

iii) Commercial farming

It is just the opposite of subsistence farming as most of the produce is sold in the market for earning money. In this system, farmers use inputs like irrigation, chemical fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, High Yielding Varieties of seeds, etc.

Some of the major commercial crops grown in different parts of India are cotton , jute, sugarcane, groundnut, etc.

Rice farming in Harayana is mainly for commercial purposes as people of this area are predominantly wheat eaters. However, in East and North-Eastern states of India, rice cultivation would be large of subsistence type.

iv) Plantation Farming:

In this type, a single cash crop is grown for sale in national and international markets. This type of agriculture involves the growing and processing of a single cash crop purely meant for sale.

Tea, coffee, rubber, banana, and spices are all examples of plantation crops. Most of these crops were introduced in India by the Britishers in the 19th Century

v) Mixed Farming:

When both raising crops and rearing animals are carried on simultaneously it is called mixed farming. Farmers engaged in mixed farming have economical advantages as well.

All classifications are based on the nature and purpose of farming hence they may overlap in some cases. For example, Banana is a plantation type of farming but can also be classified as commercial farming.

Features of Indian Agriculture

Subsistence Agriculture : Most parts of India have subsistence agriculture which has been practised in India for several hundreds of years and still prevails.

The pressure of population on Agriculture : Despite the increase in urbanization and industrialization, about 70% of the population is still directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture.

Mechanization in agriculture: Even after more than forty years of the Green Revolution and revolution in agricultural machinery and equipment, complete mechanization is still not achieved.

Monsoon dependency: Despite the large-scale expansion, only about one-third of the total cropped area is irrigated today. As a consequence, two-thirds of cropped areas are still dependent upon the monsoon.

Variety of crops: Since India has both tropical and temperate climates, crops of both climates are found in India. There are very few countries in the world that have variety comparable to that of India. You would realize that when we would discuss the different types of crops in detail.

The predominance of food crops: The production of food crops is the priority of the farmers almost everywhere in the country.

Seasonal patterns: India has three distinct agricultural/cropping seasons- Kharif, rabi, and Zaid. In India, there are specific crops grown in these three seasons. For example, rice is a Kharif crop whereas wheat is a rabi crop.

Challenges for Indian Agriculture

The challenges faced by Indian agriculture can be broadly grouped into two categories- the long-standing problems and the emerging issues from the prevailing agricultural practices, system, changing climate, and economy.

Stagnation in Production of Major Crops: Production of some of the major staple food crops like rice and wheat has been stagnating for quite some time. This is a situation that is worrying our agricultural scientists, planners, and policymakers as it creates a huge gap between the demand of the ever-growing population and the production.

High cost of Farm Inputs: Farm inputs include fertilizer, insecticide, pesticides, HYV seeds, farm labour cost, etc. Such an increase puts low and medium-land-holding farmers at a disadvantage.

Soil Exhaustion: Green revolution has played a positive role in reducing hunger in India but has negative consequences also. One of which is Soil exhaustion which means the loss of nutrients in the soil from farming the same crop over and over again.

Ground Water depletion: The second negative consequence of the green revolution is the depletion of fresh groundwater. Most of the irrigation in dry areas of Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh was carried out by excessive use of groundwater. Today fresh groundwater situation in these states is alarming.

Global Climatic Change: It has been predicted that climate change’s impact on Indian agriculture would be immense. It is predicted that due to climate change, the temperature would increase, leading to an increase in sea level, more intense cyclones, unpredictable rainfall, etc. These changes would adversely affect the production of rice and wheat. Specifically, a rise in temperature in winter would affect the production of wheat in north India. Production of rice would be affected in coastal areas of India due to the ingress of saline water and an increase in the frequency of cyclones.

Impact of Globalisation : All developing countries have been affected by globalization. The most evident effect is the reduction in farmers’ income and the threat to the viability of cultivation in India. This is due to the rising input costs and falling output prices. This reflects the combination of reduced subsidy and protection to farmers. Trade liberalization exposes these farmers to competition from highly subsidized production in the developed world.

Providing Food Security: Before the introduction of the green revolution in India, we were not self-sufficient in terms of our food grain production. But last few decades agriculture is not growing with the increasing population and to ensure food security factors like accessibility, affordability as well nutritional value of the food available should be catered to.

Farmers Suicides: The farmer suicides appear concentrated in regions of high commercialization of Indian agriculture and very high peasant debt. Cash crop farmers seemed far more vulnerable than those growing food crops. Commercialization of the countryside along with a massive decline in investment in agriculture was the beginning of the decline. Privatization of many resources has also compounded the problems.

Indian Agriculture: Important Facts

The Economic Survey of India 2020-21 report stated that in FY20:

• The total food grain production in the country was recorded at 296.65 million tonnes (up by 11.44 million tonnes compared with 285.21 million tonnes in FY19).
• The government has set a target to buy 42.74 million tonnes from the central pool in FY21; this is 10% more than the quantity purchased in FY20.
• For FY22, the government has set a record target for farmers to raise food grain production by 2% with 307.31 million tonnes of food grains.
• In FY21, production was recorded at 303.34 million tonnes against a target of 301 million tonnes
• Gross Value Added (GVA) by agriculture, forestry, and fishing was estimated at Rs. 19.48 lakh crore in FY20.
• The share of agriculture and allied sectors in GVA of India at current prices stood at 17.8 % in FY20.
• Consumer spending in India will return to growth in 2021 post the pandemic-led contraction, expanding by as much as 6.6%.

Also read:  Agriculture export policy

Top 10 Best-Selling ClearIAS Courses

Upsc prelims cum mains (pcm) gs course: unbeatable batch 2025 (online), rs.75000   rs.29000, upsc prelims marks booster + 2025 (online), rs.19999   rs.14999, upsc prelims test series (pts) 2025 (online), rs.9999   rs.4999, csat course 2025 (online), current affairs course 2025 (online), ncert foundation course (online), essay writing course for upsc cse (online), ethics course for upsc cse (online), upsc interview marks booster course (online), rs.9999   rs.4999.

About ClearIAS Team

ClearIAS is one of the most trusted learning platforms in India for UPSC preparation. Around 1 million aspirants learn from the ClearIAS every month.

Our courses and training methods are different from traditional coaching. We give special emphasis on smart work and personal mentorship. Many UPSC toppers thank ClearIAS for our role in their success.

Download the ClearIAS mobile apps now to supplement your self-study efforts with ClearIAS smart-study training.

Reader Interactions

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Don’t lose out without playing the right game!

Follow the ClearIAS Prelims cum Mains (PCM) Integrated Approach.

Join ClearIAS PCM Course Now

UPSC Online Preparation

• Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
• Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
• Indian Police Service (IPS)
• IAS Exam Eligibility
• UPSC Free Study Materials
• UPSC Exam Guidance
• UPSC Prelims Test Series
• UPSC Syllabus
• UPSC Online
• UPSC Prelims
• UPSC Interview
• UPSC Toppers
• UPSC Previous Year Qns
• UPSC Age Calculator
• UPSC Calendar 2024
• About ClearIAS
• ClearIAS Programs
• ClearIAS Fee Structure
• IAS Coaching
• UPSC Coaching
• UPSC Online Coaching
• ClearIAS Blog
• Important Updates
• Announcements
• Book Review
• ClearIAS App
• Work with us
• Advertise with us
• Privacy Policy
• Terms and Conditions
• Talk to Your Mentor

Featured on

and many more...

ClearIAS Programs: Admissions Open

Thank You 🙌

UPSC CSE 2025: Study Plan

Subscribe ClearIAS YouTube Channel

Get free study materials. Don’t miss ClearIAS updates.

Subscribe Now

IAS/IPS/IFS Online Coaching: Target CSE 2025

Cover the entire syllabus of UPSC CSE Prelims and Mains systematically.

Essay on Agriculture

Updated October 27, 2023

Essay on Agriculture – Introduction

Agriculture is a timeless ancient practice of growing crops or raising animals that started 11,700 years ago. Every day, thanks to the dedication of over 600 million farmers worldwide, we are able to enjoy delicious and healthy meals filled with fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains. It is not just farming, it’s the foundation of our existence. Agriculture is the skill of producing food resources that keep us healthy and help us survive. Countries such as China, India, and the United States are among the leading producers of key agricultural goods like wheat, rice, and cotton. In this essay on agriculture, we will explore the essential role of agriculture in feeding and nurturing our world while considering the challenges and opportunities it presents.

Watch our Demo Courses and Videos

Valuation, Hadoop, Excel, Mobile Apps, Web Development & many more.

Essay on Agriculture – Evolution

1. birth of farming.

A long time ago, our human ancestors were just hunters and gatherers. They didn’t farm but hunted animals and gathered fruits and plants to eat. Around 11,000 years ago, people found they could plant seeds in the ground and grow plants. This was the birth of farming.

As time passed, farming became more organized. People began to settle in one place, leading to the growth of ancient civilizations, like the Egyptians, who cultivated crops along the Nile River.

2. Evolving Agricultural Tools & Techniques

Agriculture kept evolving with inventions and discoveries. Humans built plows to help with planting and harvesting. The Chinese even developed paper money to make trading farm products easier.

The 20th century of agriculture saw a big shift as scientists developed new crop varieties that could produce more food. Farmers also started using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides to protect crops. This period is known as the Green Revolution.

 3. Modern Agriculture

Today, farming has gone high-tech. We have tractors, GPS-guided planting, and even robots to help with farming. Moreover, some farmers use satellites to monitor their fields, experimenting with things like vertical farming (growing crops in stacked trays) and hydroponics (growing plants without soil).

Important Roles of Agriculture

Agriculture is the backbone of our civilization, providing us with the food we eat and many other important resources for our well-being. It is our primary food source that ensures our well-being through diverse crop production, supporting our physical and mental health.

Moreover, it also provides employment and income to millions worldwide, including farmers, laborers, and supply chain workers. Agricultural raw materials help us create useful products. For instance, we use cotton for textiles and plants for biofuels.

Agriculture shapes culture, traditions, and social structures in many societies, deeply influencing our way of life. It also reduces the impact of climate change through sustainable practices. Additionally, it plays a significant role in international trade, fostering economic interdependence by exporting surplus agricultural products.

Top Agricultural Nations Worldwide

These are the top 5 countries that have the highest agricultural exports in the world.

Agriculture Sector’s Growth and Development In India

The agriculture sector in India has played a crucial role in the country’s economic development, employment generation, and food security. Over the years, it has witnessed significant growth, as mentioned below:

• In India, farmers are transitioning from conventional crops like corn and wheat to high-value produce such as organic mangoes in Maharashtra, vibrant floriculture in Gujarat, and export-quality bananas in Andhra Pradesh.
• Farmers use modern farm machinery, high-yield seeds, and modern farming techniques, e.g., the adoption of high-yielding wheat and rice varieties in Punjab, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh.
• India is now using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in agriculture to help farmers optimize crop yield and minimize wastage. For instance, a startup, Cropin, gives farmers real-time data that helps them analyze their produce’s quality.
• The government has built major dams and canals for improved water access, e.g., Bhakra Nangal and Sardar Sarovar Dams.
• Food processing industries have grown substantially, e.g., companies like Amul, ITC, and Patanjali.
• There is MSP (Minimum Support Prices) and crop insurance to ensure minimum crop prices and mitigate other risks.

The Pattern of Agriculture in India

In India, the monsoon determines the prospects of agriculture. Therefore, India’s agriculture is heavily reliant on the monsoon season. The two main agriculture seasons are the kharif and rabi seasons.

1. Kharif Season

This season begins with the arrival of the monsoon. Farmers sow crops when monsoons begin and harvest usually between September and October. Key crops during this season include maize, cotton, rice, sorghum, and soybean. As these crops need a lot of rain to grow well, monsoon is the best season to plant them.

2. Rabi Season

Plants like wheat, pulses, linseed, mustard, oats, and barley grow better during the dry season. Thus, these rabi crops are planted in the winter, around October and November, and typically harvested in spring.

Agriculture’s Negative Impact

Although agriculture is the heart of human survival and growth, improper agricultural practices can have several negative impacts.

1. Deforestation

When nations clear forests for big farms, it harms nature, releases climate-changing carbon, and disturbs ecosystems. For instance, in the Amazon rainforest, large forest areas are still being cleared for soybean farming, leading to deforestation.

2. Water Pollution & Wastage

Farming needs lots of water, which can cause water shortages. Moreover, farm chemicals run into the water, hurting fish and making drinking unsafe. For instance, groundwater depletion in India’s Punjab region due to irrigation is causing water scarcity. Excess fertilizer runoff in the Mississippi River Basin has created a massive “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico.

3. Health Impacts

Farming generates greenhouse gasses, like the beef industry contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, as cows produce methane during digestion. In addition, chemicals in farming can end up in our food and water, harming our health.

4. Harmful Agricultural Practices

Sometimes, hard farming damages soil, making it less fertile and prone to erosion. For example, intensive corn farming in the US Midwest has led to soil erosion and declining fertility. Additionally, when modern farming takes over, like the change from traditional rice farming to new methods in Japan, it can put at risk special cultural traditions.

Final Thoughts

This essay on agriculture covers how agriculture is an important and dynamic economic sector vital to human society. With an expanding global population and rising consumer demand for food and other goods, agriculture’s importance will only increase.

Recommended Articles

We hope that this EDUCBA information on “Essay on Agriculture” was beneficial to you. You can view EDUCBA’s recommended articles for more information,

• Importance of Sports Essay
• Essay on Digital India
• Essay on Natural Disaster
• Essay on Women Empowerment

*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy .

Valuation, Hadoop, Excel, Web Development & many more.

Forgot Password?

This website or its third-party tools use cookies, which are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the cookie policy. By closing this banner, scrolling this page, clicking a link or continuing to browse otherwise, you agree to our Privacy Policy

Explore 1000+ varieties of Mock tests View more

Submit Next Question

Early-Bird Offer: ENROLL NOW

• Skip to main content
• Skip to secondary menu
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

A Plus Topper

Improve your Grades

Essay on Agriculture | Agriculture Essay for Students and Children in English

May 18, 2023 by Prasanna

Essay on Agriculture:  Agriculture is, without a doubt, the foundation of our country. One straightforward Agriculture in India Essay won’t be adequate to expound on the significance of agriculture in India article and commitment of agriculture to India. India, the second-biggest maker of agricultural items on the planet, delivers more than 280 million tons, adding to over 15% of India’s GDP.

Jai jawan Jai Kisan a term authored by the previous Prime Minister of India, Lal Bahadur Shastri, holds worth and pertinence for millennia to come. While troopers at our country’s boundaries shield our nations from adversaries, India’s ranchers feed the nation every day.

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Long and Short Essays on Agriculture for Students and Kids in English

We are providing the students with essay samples on an extended Essay on Agriculture of 500 words and a Short Essay on Agriculture of 150 words on the topic of Agriculture.

Long Essay on Agriculture of 500 Words in English

Long Essay on Agriculture is helpful to students of classes 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.

On the off chance that you have had your dinners today, it’s a given, yet thank a rancher. We can live without a driver or a craftsman or film legend or a vocalist, yet would you be able to live without a rancher? Would we be able to try and envision our lives without food? Food is just about as significant as oxygen and water. While our nonexistent divine beings create oxygen and water, food is delivered by our living God, the rancher of India. Be that as it may, for what reason is rancher’s situation, particularly in a non-industrial nation India, is not so great?

What are we not doing that other created nations are doing to their cultivating local area? Even though we have refined advances to distinguish rainfalls and dawns, it isn’t adequate regarding horticultural scales. In any case, just forecast is of no utilization. There are meagre rainfalls, an abrupt expansion in temperature and different variables that may hurt the harvests. This is generally alluded to as Force Majeure or a demonstration of God. Man has been dealing with this issue since the time the get-go.

It torments me to say that as you are perusing this Agriculture in India, a rancher someplace in a side of India would have ended it all. India has one of the most effective rancher self-destruction rates on the planet. There is a normal of ten rancher suicides in the country consistently. They end it all typically when they can’t reimburse their credits back that they took to develop the land. Either in light of the critical factor from the property manager, moneylenders or the banks, ranchers make to this outrageous stride. The agriculture area needs quick government help and mediations to forestall additional passings.

Nations like America and China utilize innovation and information examination devices to improve their agricultural site. Lamentably, India falls a long ways behind them in this field. In the wake of perusing Agriculture in India Essay in China or America, where they have expressed how they use information logical devices to conquer variable climate conditions and other incidental elements, I feel it’s about time that India receives the equivalent.

These are a portion of the issues that ranchers are confronting. However, there are without doubt manners by which the area can be improved. The resulting part of the Agriculture in India Essay discusses the estimates that the public authority and cultivating local area can improve the current situation with conditions. As referenced in the past piece of this Agriculture in India Essay, ranchers need to uphold all of the country’s edges. Given the present-day situation where all aspects of the economy are enduring due to the Covid pandemic, the agriculture area needs prompt alleviation and relaxations.

The public authority can begin with forgoing off credits of the ranchers and mix money into the area so ranchers can backfire in the right place again. This is another significant arrangement that the public authority of India is quick to present. Regardless of whether it’s rabi harvest or Kharif yields, organic products, or vegetables, a base cost will be set underneath which ranchers shouldn’t be compelled to sell their produce. Typically, the ranchers are exploited by mediators at mandis and discount markets where the product is purchased for significantly less cost and afterward offered to end shoppers at an exorbitant price, leaving ranchers misfortune.

Short Essay on Agriculture 150 Words in English

Short Essay on Agriculture is helpful to students of classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Agriculture isn’t only an area for India or simply a task that individuals do. It is a lifestyle for us Indians. Without this area, the populace blast in this country and the financial cycles will reach a strict halt. A common day in a rancher’s life at a town comprises rising right on time around 5 am, cleaning up at the regular streams close by, having lavish breakfast, pack some sound lunch, and leaving to the fields.

From seed planting, soil ploughing, treating and collecting the land, each and everything is finished with affection and care by the rancher. Agriculture, having contributed for over 15% of India’s GDP and given business and occupation to the greater part of the nation’s working populace, hasn’t got its due credit. The measure of help a rancher has given to his nation is more than the measure of help the nation has given to its rancher.

10 Lines on Agriculture Essay

• Agriculture adds to over 15% of India’s GDP and has given work to a huge number of individuals in the country
• India is the second-most elevated maker of rural items on the planet
• Agriculture structures more than over 70% of India’s fare limit
• Agriculture in India should be improved from its current state
• The structure of dams, water system waterways and innovative framework is important to improve the area
• Information insightful devices and another such programming ought to be accustomed to improving agrarian procedures
• Agriculture prompts deforestation and adds to the hardships of unnatural weather change issues
• Old farming strategies like yield consumption and waterway water system lead to expanding air contamination and water contamination
• Inordinate and compressed rural strategies lead to a diminishing in the groundwater table
• Over the top utilization of substance, pesticides, and compost for alternate way strategies for farming produce can prompt food acting like well as a decline in the dirt supplement limit.

FAQ’s on Agriculture Essay

Question 1. Who creates the most noteworthy horticultural items on the planet?

Answer: China is the world’s most elevated maker and exporter of farming items

Question 2. What amount of land surface is developed on the planet?

Answer: As of now, 11%, that is 1.5 billion hectares of worldwide land, is utilized for agriculture.

• Picture Dictionary
• English Speech
• English Slogans
• English Letter Writing
• English Essay Writing
• English Textbook Answers
• Types of Certificates
• ICSE Solutions
• Selina ICSE Solutions
• ML Aggarwal Solutions
• HSSLive Plus One
• HSSLive Plus Two
• Kerala SSLC
• Distance Education

Short & Long Essay on Agriculture 100, 150, 250, 500 Words

Essay on agriculture.

The essay on Agriculture is written in simple English and has easy words for children and students. This English essay tells about agriculture, what agriculture is for us, and why it is special for us. Students are often asked to write essay on agriculture in their schools and colleges. And if you are also looking for the same, then we have given essay on agriculture in 100 – words, 150 – words, 250 – words, and 500 – words.

An effective way to teach students would be through an essay on agriculture in English. Through essay writing on this topic of Agriculture for classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10, children will learn to collect facts and write them in their own words.

Essay – 100 Words

India is an agricultural country and it is not just a means of livelihood but a way of life. We have been doing agriculture since ancient times. After independence, we had to depend on other countries to meet the demand for food grains. But, the Green Revolution has made India self-reliant.

Farmers work very hard in the agricultural field to grow food. Our farmers stand by us in every situation by giving us food. Man cannot even imagine living without the help of agriculture. There are many types of agriculture like shifting cultivation, grain farming, fish farming, dairy farming, etc. Some bad effects of wrong farming on the environment have also been seen such as pollution from pesticides, fertilizers, and manure.

Essay – 150 Words

Agriculture is of great importance in our lives. Farmers do not grow anything in their fields rather they provide employment and business opportunities to others. Consumption of the final products of agriculture affects our entire lives. Without its help, it is impossible for a human being to fill his stomach. Agriculture helps maintain our ecosystem.

Agriculture plays an important role in the economic development of any country as many industries depend on agriculture for their raw materials. With the revolution in agriculture, the industrial sector has also expanded. Moreover, when production in the agricultural sector increases, more employment opportunities will also be created and provide work in crop growing, direct employment in agricultural extension, and other sectors as well.

But doing agriculture wrongly has many fatal consequences. It is also a major source of pollution, as pesticides, fertilizers, and other toxic agricultural chemicals can poison water, marine ecosystems, soil, and air.

Essay – 250 Words

Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for most of the population in India. More than 70 percent of people here depend on agriculture. Agriculture has been in existence since ancient times and in today’s era it has evolved with new technologies and equipment that have replaced the old traditional farming methods.

Even today some farmers use traditional farming methods because they lack education and resources and understanding to use modern technologies. Today, India is the second-largest producer of rice, wheat, cotton, fruits, tea, and vegetables. Various types of spices are cultivated here and these spices are sent all over the world.

Growth and Development of Agricultural Sector

We have been doing agriculture for a long time, yet it has still remained underdeveloped. Even after independence, we used to import food grains from other countries to meet the country’s demand. But, due to the Green Revolution, we have now become self-reliant and export our surplus to other countries. Our government is also making continuous efforts to develop this sector.

Earlier we were completely dependent on monsoon for agriculture, but now we have built canals, dams, tube wells, and pump sets. Additionally, there are now better varieties of pesticides, fertilizers, and seeds that help grow more food.

Agriculture is an important sector of the Indian economy. It is progressing with the continuous changes, development, and policies implemented in the agricultural sector. It will always remain an important factor in India’s economic growth.

Essay – 500 Words

Agriculture is the main sector of the Indian economy and employment of farmers. Agriculture has existed for thousands of years. But it has evolved a lot over the years. In today’s era, the use of new inventions, technologies, and equipment has changed almost all the traditional methods of farming. But, even today some farmers are using old traditional methods of agriculture due to lack of information because they are unable to use modern methods. Agriculture has contributed not only to its development but also to the development of other areas of the country.

Role of Agriculture in Economic Development

Agriculture plays an important role in the economic development of the country as it is one of the largest sources of livelihood in the country. Even today 3/4 of the population is based on agriculture and earlier we mainly depended on monsoons for agriculture, but now canals, dams, tube wells, and pump sets have been constructed.

Industries get raw materials from the agricultural sector on which other businesses depend, hence a large part of the economy depends on the agricultural sector. Agriculture provides employment opportunities to most of the people in the country.

Agriculture contributes to Indian exports and also plays an important role in increasing foreign exchange. India exports goods like spices, coffee, tobacco, tea, vegetables, etc. to other countries.

Types of Agriculture

There are many types of agriculture as mentioned below:

Grain cultivation – This is done to provide food to animals and humans. It involves the process of sowing different types of crops which are then harvested at the end of the season.

Horticulture and fruit cultivation – In this process, fruits and vegetables are produced on a large scale. This is mainly done for business purposes.

Dairy Farming – It deals with the production of milk. In this process, products like sweets, curd, cheese, etc. are produced.

Negative Effects of Agriculture

Although agriculture is very beneficial from the point of view of the country’s economy and employment, some negative effects are also seen. These are harmful to the people involved in the agricultural sector as well as the environment.

First, the use of most chemical fertilizers and pesticides pollutes and poisons the land as well as the surrounding water bodies. Its use causes the depletion of topsoil and pollutes ground water.

Secondly, deforestation is also a negative effect of agriculture. To expand agricultural land, many forests have been cut down and converted into agricultural land. Also, excessive use of river water for irrigation causes many small rivers and ponds to dry up, disrupting the natural balance.

Agriculture has given a lot to the country from food to business, but agriculture has some advantages and disadvantages which we cannot ignore. The government is making every possible effort for the growth and development of proper agriculture. Also, the government needs to do something about the negative impacts on agriculture.

More Like This-

• Essay on G20 Summit
• Essay on Animals
• Essay on My Brother

Related Posts

Essay On Cow 500 Words PDF

Essay On My Hobby 500 Words & Paragraph | PDF

Essay on Environmental Pollution 1000 Words | PDF

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

• View all journals
• Explore content
• About the journal
• Publish with us
• Sign up for alerts
• Open access
• Published: 18 July 2023

Sustainable pathways toward reimagining India’s agricultural systems

• Kamaljit S. Bawa 1 , 2 &
• Reinmar Seidler   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-6106-8274 1  

Communications Earth & Environment volume  4 , Article number:  262 ( 2023 ) Cite this article

4066 Accesses

2 Citations

15 Altmetric

Metrics details

• Agriculture
• Developing world
• Sustainability

India’s Green Revolution made the country a world leader in rice and wheat production, but it has taken its toll on people and the environment. In an era of climate change and population growth, agriculture must be made sustainable. Pathways to this ambitious goal require new approaches to agricultural policy and research.

During the 1960s and 1970s, India’s Green Revolution brought about a remarkable agricultural transformation. Over the course of two decades, the country turned from one of the world’s largest net importers of food grains into a leading exporter of rice and wheat and established its prominence in the global food market. However, the requirements for energy, water and fertilizers to sustain the production of new varieties of rice and wheat were substantial, and they had detrimental consequences. Green Revolution-based agriculture has led to the loss of soil nutrients 1 , depletion of water resources 2 , reduction in agrobiodiversity 3 and increases in greenhouse gas emissions 4 . Impacts on public health and the recurrent financial investments needed for seeds and chemical inputs helped create debt traps for many farming families, compounding the environmental impacts 5 .

Transformative changes in India’s agriculture are needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining production levels and sustaining ecosystem services. India needs to improve management of soils, water and crop residues, reduce food waste, augment biodiversity in and around farms, and ramp up carbon sequestration.

Pathways to Reducing Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions

There are alternatives to the intensive rice-wheat production promoted under the Green Revolution.- These include natural, regenerative, organic, and no-tillage farming based on agroecological principles 6 , 7 , 8 . But critically, it remains unclear whether these systems can maintain high levels of productivity and how they would respond to changing climatic conditions.

We identify five main pathways to reducing net greenhouse gas emissions from the agriculture sector and increasing carbon sequestration in soils and biomass. Each pathway faces considerable implementation challenges, not only technical but also around knowledge and institutions.

Build soil fertility with less synthetic fertilizer

Many alternative agricultural systems emphasize a reduction in soil tillage and use of organic inputs to maintain a healthy sub-surface ecosystem while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Such approaches have been used in India 9 , 10 , 11 , but with little overall analysis of outcomes. Because at least 40 to 55% of India’s soils today are severely deficient in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic carbon 12 , synthetic fertilizers may seem virtually indispensable. But fertilizers are currently used inefficiently and in skewed proportions 13 , partly because government subsidies have kept prices of nitrogenous fertilizers excessively low, leading to imbalanced use of phosphorus and potassium 14 . Crop residues and weed biomass can be put to targeted use instead of being burned. Integration of agriculture with livestock industries can provide dung and manure. Supplies of seaweed, aquatic weed biomass as well as aquaculture waste from fisheries can overcome the shortage of organic inputs. All these measures can create markets for waste products from other sectors.

Integrated nutrient management approaches 15 and pesticide-free farming methods ( https://www.safeharvest.co.in/ ), which permit limited synthetic fertilizers but restrict other chemical inputs, may avoid some destructive outcomes while upholding productivity levels—but they require systematic trials. The national Soil Health Card program—a governmental scheme implemented to help farmers monitor the status of their soils—should be reinforced and expanded. Understanding soil health and correct fertilizer use will reduce the need for perverse fertilizer subsidies and increase farmers’ ability to use fertilizers sustainably.

Above all, large-scale systematic testing is needed to establish the relative productivity of diverse place-based agricultural approaches over time. The diversity of India’s soils, hydrology, regional climate regimes and cultural characteristics means that one-size-fits-all programs are bound to fail. This was a core problem with the Green Revolution.

Improve water management and crop diversity

Paddy rice production is associated with intensive water consumption, and rice is therefore an ecologically inappropriate crop choice where water is scarce. Nevertheless, rice is currently cultivated in semi-arid regions, such as parts of Punjab 16 . This results in unsustainable rates of groundwater extraction. In addition, in hypoxic conditions inundated rice fields emit methane, a short-lived but potent greenhouse gas whose emissions must be reduced urgently 17 . Both water consumption and methane emissions can be reduced through improved water management.

Before the Green Revolution, traditional cropping choices emphasized pulses, beans, and a variety of nutritious drought-resistant crops such as millets and sorghum. Re-establishing greater crop diversity, especially in dry areas, can help address current challenges in meeting food security while adapting to climate change. However, moving toward crop diversity will require comprehensive reconsideration of agricultural land uses at the landscape scale, along with heavy investments in agricultural extension services.

Reuse crop residue as raw material

In India each year, between 92 and 122 million tons of residue from rice, wheat and sugarcane are burned in the fields. These fires emit particulate matter and greenhouse gases 18 . The residues are burned because in the Green Revolution-based rice-wheat system, there is a very short interval between the end of the rice harvest and the start of sowing wheat. The slow decomposition of crop residues inhibits their use in situ, while hiring machinery to quickly break down crop residues and assist with decomposition is expensive. Yet crop residues and weed biomass could also be useful in other sectors. Fueling biomass power plants, these residues could generate 120 Terawatt hours of electricity – nearly 10% of India’s current total energy production 19 . A functioning market for recycling crop wastes as soil amendments would also benefit farmers by providing them both with extra income and a reliable supply of organic biomass.

Expense and transport challenges hinder the development of such markets. One solution is to provide financial support to farmer cooperatives and small agribusinesses for processing crop waste with other biomass for reuse in agriculture and other industries.

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock

India is currently home to over 535 million head of livestock 20 that produce greenhouse gases equivalent to 467.5 million tons of carbon dioxide per year. Three strategies have been proposed to mitigate these emissions 21 . Cattle can be fed with methane-inhibiting feed additives such as seaweed; they can be vaccinated against rumen methanogens with methanogen vaccines to control their methane emissions; and regular and time-controlled breeding can also contribute to reducing emissions.

However, all three strategies face considerable cultural and practical challenges. At the large scale, each would be expensive and administratively complex. Without a subsidized distribution system for feed additives, the benefits of reduced methane emissions would accrue to the global community whereas the costs for the additives would fall on the smallholder. Even raising the average quality of cattle feed would reduce methane emissions rates but would be prohibitively costly for smallholders. Since cattle are widely associated with sacred values, manipulating them through vaccines and breeding systems would not sit well with much of the population.

Promote agroforestry for carbon sequestration with co-benefits

In India, where many smallholders have little access to forest areas, agroforestry services may be essential for a viable agricultural system 22 . Agroforestry in mixed-use, multifunctional landscapes (e.g., Fig.  1 ) provides key ecosystem goods and services such as fuel wood, fruits, fodder, and fibers. Agroforestry’s green infrastructure helps constrain erosion, stabilize fragile soils and steep slopes, and can sequester some carbon. Protection of late-successional forests in situ, termed proforestation 23 , is far more effective in storing carbon than growing new trees through afforestation. Again, the role of trees and forests needs to be considered at the landscape scale.

Smallholder agricultural systems in mountain villages, such as this one in the Darjeeling Himalaya mid-montane, depend on close integration of crops, livestock, and forest resources. The bluish haze is from wood-burning household stoves. ( R. Seidler photo ).

Policy frameworks needed to generate the pathways

These pathways cannot be implemented at the necessary scale without explicit participation and commitment of government agencies and research institutions. Scattershot approaches will not suffice. Here we describe the steps depicted in Fig.  2 .

New policy frameworks are urgently needed to reshape institutional networks and increase their capacity to adopt and implement landscape-systems approaches to agricultural research and resource management. Key agencies such as Indian Council of Agricultural Research and government think-tank NITI-Aayog must implement programs promoting sustainability, climate resilience, biodiversity maintenance, and ecosystem services – not focusing exclusively on agroecosystems but also incorporating nearby ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, abandoned fields, urbanizing areas.

Landscape approaches should be implemented using available technologies such as controlled field trials across multiple agroecosystems and digital platforms to generate knowledge commons. These can help improve communications and facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, promoting sectoral integration.

Field trials are needed to evaluate performance not only in terms of productivity but also of synthetic or organic soil amendments and pesticide inputs, greenhouse gas emissions, and resilience to climate extremes. Field trials can fill gaps in knowledge, enabling widespread application of agroecological principles and locally appropriate natural and organic methods. Such trials require significant changes in research paradigms to incorporate multiple actors beyond the agricultural scientists focused on agronomy, gene editing and breeding. Close participation of farmers, local non-governmental organizations and agencies is critical for collecting large-scale farm-level data. Currently, public sector extension agencies and universities rarely explore synergies or cooperation 24 .

Emerging technologies, especially digital platforms, can help create a national movement for the spread of new paradigms and action at the grassroots level. Several government initiatives are underway (e.g., KisanMitr ( https://kisanmitr.gov.in )), mKisan Portal ( http://www.mkisan.gov.in/aboutmkisan.aspx ). Civil society organizations such as Digital Green ( https://www.digitalgreen.org/ ) and e-Kisaan ( http://www.ekisaan.com/ ) already demonstrate potential to reach thousands of farmers 25 and provide transformative information and services from the start of the crop cycle to product marketing ( https://agrevolution.in/company ).

The diagram outlines the flows of information and influence needed to generate large-scale outcomes incorporating biodiversity protection, livelihoods support and climate mitigation.

Globally, and nationally in India, a radical shift in thinking about food systems and sustainability is underway. Steps toward agricultural sustainability in India must generate a multi-dimensional food system that continues producing enough food calories while sequestering carbon, protecting biodiversity and ecosystem services, and supporting rural livelihoods. Many practices will need to change to meet these goals simultaneously. A holistic lands-based approach to agricultural research can help meet the requirements of food systems in the era of climate change, while helping the country realize its ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions – thereby honoring the state’s social contract with its own people as well as with the international community.

Tilman, D. The greening of the green revolution. Nature 396 , 211–212 (1998).

Article   CAS   Google Scholar  

Davis, K. F. et al. Alternative cereals can improve water use and nutrient supply in India. Sci. Adv. 4 , eaao1108 (2018).

Article   Google Scholar  

Perfecto, I. et al. Nature’s Matrix: Linking Agriculture, Biodiversity Conservation and Food Sovereignty (2nd edn.) (NYC: Routledge, 2019).

Sapkota, T. B. et al. Cost-effective opportunities for climate change mitigation in Indian agriculture. Sci. Total Environ. 655 , 1342–1354 (2019).

Wakchaure, S. D. Analytical study of agricultural crisis and farmers suicides in India. Int. Res. Jour. Hum. Res. Soc. Sci . 7 , 97–104 (2020).

Mukherjee, A., et al. Organic Farming in India: Status, Issues and Way Forward (Executive Summary) (ICRIER, 2017).

NAAS. Zero Budget Natural Farming - A Myth or Reality? Policy Paper 90. 20pp (National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 2019).

Wezel, A. et al. Agroecological principles and elements and their implications for transitioning to sustainable food systems. A review. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 40 , 1–13 (2020).

Das, J. & Bhattacharyya, D. An Enquiry into the challenges of organic farming in Sikkim. Business Studies 39 , 105–112 (2018).

Google Scholar  

Erenstein, O. & Laxmi, V. Zero tillage impacts in India’s rice–wheat systems: a review. Soil Tillage Res. 100 , 1–14 (2008).

Jat, M. L. et al. Conservation agriculture for sustainable intensification in S. Asia. Nat. Sustain. 3 , 336–343 (2020).

GoI MAFW-DAFW. Soil Health Survey 2019–20. Government of India, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare - Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare. https://soilhealth.dac.gov.in/PublicReports/MacroNutrientsStateWiseNPK (2020).

Das, B. S. et al. Soil Health and its relationship with food security and human health to meet the Sustainable Development Goals in India. Soil Security 8 , 100071 (2022).

Gulati, A. & Banerjee, P. Rationalising Fertiliser Subsidy in India: Key Issues and Policy Options . Working Paper 307. ICRIER: New Delhi (2015).

Wu, W. & Ma, B. Integrated nutrient management (INM) for sustaining crop productivity and reducing environmental impact: a review. Sci. Total Environ. 512 , 415–427 (2015).

Gulati, A. et al. Revitalizing Indian Agriculture and Boosting Farmer Incomes , p. 372 (Springer Nature, 2021).

McKenna, P. The IPCC Understated the Need to Cut Emissions from Methane and Other Short-Lived Climate Pollutants, Climate Experts Say. https://insideclimatenews.org/news/12082021/ipcc-report-methane-super-pollutants/ (2021).

Venkatramanan, V. et al. Nexus between crop residue burning, bioeconomy and sustainable development goals over North-Western India. Front. Energy Res. 8 , 614212 (2021).

Ravindra, K. et al. Emissions of air pollutants from primary crop residue burning in India and their mitigation strategies for cleaner emissions. J. Clean. Prod. 208 , 261–273 (2019).

GoI DAHD. 20 th Livestock Census . Government of India, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying https://dahd.nic.in/sites/default/filess/Key%20Results%2BAnnexure%2018.10.2019.pdf (2019).

Kumari, S. et al. Methane production and estimation from livestock husbandry: a mechanistic understanding and emerging mitigation options. Sci. Total Environ. 709 , 136135 (2020).

Dagar, J. C. et al. Agroforestry for Degraded Landscapes (Springer, 2020).

Moomaw, W. R. et al. Intact forests in the United States: proforestation mitigates climate change and serves the greatest good. Front. Fors. Glob. Change 2 , 1–10 (2019).

Gulati, A. et al. Agriculture extension system in India: review of current status, trends and the way forward (ICRIER, 2018).

Bhaskara, S. & Bawa, K. S. Societal digital platforms for sustainability: agriculture. Sustainability 13 , 5048 (2021).

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA, 02125, USA

Kamaljit S. Bawa & Reinmar Seidler

Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru, 560 064, India

Kamaljit S. Bawa

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Contributions

K.S.B. and R.S. both contributed to conceiving, researching and writing the paper.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Reinmar Seidler .

Ethics declarations

Competing interests.

The authors declare no competing interests.

Peer review

Peer review information.

Communications Earth & Environment thanks Sylvia Helga Vetter and the other, anonymous, reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work. Primary Handling Editor: Aliénor Lavergne. A peer review file is available.

Additional information

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary information

Peer review file, rights and permissions.

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ .

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article.

Bawa, K.S., Seidler, R. Sustainable pathways toward reimagining India’s agricultural systems. Commun Earth Environ 4 , 262 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00902-6

Download citation

Received : 31 January 2023

Accepted : 19 June 2023

Published : 18 July 2023

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00902-6

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

This article is cited by

Greenhouse gas emissions in the indian agriculture sector and mitigation by best management practices and smart farming technologies—a review.

• Katina Chachei

Environmental Science and Pollution Research (2024)

Quick links

• Explore articles by subject
• Guide to authors
• Editorial policies

Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Anthropocene newsletter — what matters in anthropocene research, free to your inbox weekly.

Agriculture Essay

Agriculture is known to be one of the most significant economic activities. It involves the production of plants, livestock, fiber, fuel and more by utilizing natural resources such as water and land. The term agriculture is broader than it is commonly anticipated to be. It includes forestry, fishery, livestock and most importantly crop production. Agriculture sector is also one of the largest employers across the world, mainly in developing and under developed nations. Millions of people around the world, directly or indirectly depend on agriculture sector for their livelihood. It is an activity which provides our everyday requirement of food, vegetables, fruits, spices etc.

Long and Short Essay on Agriculture in English

Here are essay on agriculture in English of varying lengths to help you with the topic in the exam.

These Agriculture Essays will let you understand the meaning of “agriculture” and the significant role it plays in the overall economic growth and prosperity of a nation.

After going through the following Agriculture essay you will be able to understand the advantages of agriculture.

These essays will be helpful during several of your school assignments. You can select any agriculture essay as per your need and interest.

Agriculture Essay 1 (200 words)

Introduction

Agriculture is basically the cultivation of plants for the production of food, fuel, fiber, medicines and many other things that have become a necessity for the mankind. Agriculture also involves the breeding of animals. The development of agriculture turned to be a boon for the human civilization as it also gave way to their development.

Agriculture is said to be an art, science and commerce all at the same time as it suffices the factors involved in all three.

It is said to be an art as it involves the growth, development and management of crop and animal husbandry. It requires patience and dedication to yield good results in this field and only someone who possesses this art can achieve it.

The knowledge of breeding and genetics is employed to come up with new improved methods of agriculture. Several inventions and explorations are being made in the field. It is ever evolving and thus qualifies as science.

Agriculture supports the economy like no other sector and thus undoubtedly falls in this category too.

With around two-third of the Indian population dependent directly or indirectly on agriculture, it is considered to be the basis of the country’s economic development. It is not just known to be a source of livelihood in India but a way of life.

Agriculture Essay 2 (300 words)

The term agriculture comes from the Latin word ager which means field and cultura that means cultivation. Agriculture basically involves the cultivation and production of crops and livestock products.

History of Agriculture

The history of agriculture dates back several centuries. It began in different parts of the world independently about 105,000 years back mostly by the collection of wild grains for the purpose of eating. Here is how different countries were involved in this activity:

• In Mesopotamia, pigs were domesticated around 15,000 years ago. They began domesticating sheep around 2000 years later.
• In China, rice was cultivated around 13,500 years ago. They eventually began cultivating soy, azuki beans and mung.
• In Turkey, cattle were domesticated around 10,500 years ago.
• Beans, potato, coca, llamas and alpacas were domesticated around 10,000 years ago.
• Sugarcane and certain root vegetables were cultivated in New Guinea around 9,000 years ago.
• Cotton was domesticated in Peru around 5,600 years ago.

Similarly, the domestication of various plants and animals is being done in many other parts of the country since thousands of years.

Impact of Modern Technology on Agriculture

The development in the field of science and technology led to the use of modern techniques in agriculture. While it has contributed a great deal to the development of the agriculture sector, the modern technology has also had certain negative repercussions on the sector. Here is the kind of impact it has had:

• The use of fertilizers and pesticides as well as the use of technologically advanced equipments for the cultivation of crops has increased the yields drastically however it has also been the cause of ecological damage and impacted the human health negatively.
• Selective breeding and the use of other modern practices in the rearing of animals has increased the supply of meat however it has raised the concern about animal welfare.

Like every other sector, the agricultural sector has also evolved over the centuries and its development has brought about certain positive and negative repercussions to the society.

Agriculture Essay 3 (400 words)

Agriculture is a vast subject. It encompasses the production of crops, animal husbandry, soil science, horticulture, dairy science, extension education, entomology, agriculture chemistry, agri engineering, agri economics, plant pathology and botany. These subjects are taught in various universities across the world to train people in the field.

Different Kinds of Farming

Here is a look at how the agricultural field has broadly been categorized in our country:

• Subsistence Farming

One of the most widely practiced technique of farming in India. Under this type of farming, the farmers grow grains for themselves as well as for the purpose of sale.

• Commercial Agriculture

This type of agriculture focuses on high yield with the aim to export it to other countries to generate profit. Some of the commonly grown commercial crops in the country include cotton, wheat and sugarcane.

• Shifting Agriculture

This type of farming is majorly practiced by tribal groups to grow root crops. They mostly clear the forested area and grow crops there.

• Extensive Agriculture

This is more common in the developed countries. However, it is also practiced in certain parts of India. It focuses on the use of machinery to grow and raise crops.

• Intensive Agriculture

This is a common practice in densely populated areas of the country. It is focused on generating maximizing output of the land by employing different techniques. A good amount of investment in terms of money and huge labour force is required for this.

• Plantation Agriculture

This type of agriculture involves the cultivation of crops that require a good amount of time and space for growing. Some of these crops include tea, rubber, coffee, cocoa, coconut, fruits and spices. This is mostly practiced in the states of Assam, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala.

• Wet Land Farming

The areas that receive heavy rainfall are well irrigated and these are apt for the farming of crops such as jute, rice and sugarcane.

• Dry Land Farming

It is practiced in desert-like areas such as the central and northwest India. Some of the crops grown in such areas are bajra, jowar and gram. This is because these crops require less water for growth.

With the advancement in technology, agriculture has come a long way. It is not limited to just growing crops and rearing of cattle. It includes a whole lot of other subjects and someone who is interested in getting into the agricultural field can choose to specialize in one.

Agriculture Essay 4 (500 words)

Agriculture basically involves the cultivation of crops and the domestication of animals for the purpose of generating food and other things necessary for the mankind. While it is being practiced since centuries, it has evolved over the time and has become one of the major factors in the development of our country’s economy.

Significance of Agriculture

Here is a look at the significance of agriculture:

• Major Source of Food

It goes without saying that the food we eat is a gift of the agricultural activities that take place in the country. The country has seen times of acute food shortage before independence however the problem was resolved with the advent of the green revolution in agriculture in the year 1969.

• Major Contributor to National Income

Statistics reveal that, the national income from primary agricultural activities was about 59% in the year 1950-51. While it has come down eventually and reached around 24% about a decade back, the agricultural sector in India is still one of the major contributors to the national income.

• Development of the Industrial Sector

Agriculture plays a major role in the development of the industrial sector by providing the raw material. Industries such as the cotton textiles, sugar, jute, oil, rubber and tobacco are majorly dependent on the agricultural sector.

• Employment Opportunities

The agricultural sector offers numerous employment opportunities as a large labour force is required for the smooth functioning of various agricultural activities. It does not only open a vast arena of direct employment opportunities but indirect as well. For instance, the agricultural products need to be transported from one place to another and hence it supports the transport sector.

• Boost in Foreign Trade

Foreign trade relies majorly on the agricultural sector. Agricultural exports form a good 70% of the total exports. India is an exporter of tea, tobacco, cotton textiles, jute products, sugar, spices and many other agricultural products.

• Generation of Government Revenue

Excise duty on agro-based goods, land revenue and taxes on the sale of agricultural machinery make for a good source of government revenue.

• Formation of Capital

The surplus income generated from agricultural activities can very well be invested in banks for capital formation.

Agriculture: A hazardous Industry

While agricultural sector is of great importance to the country, we cannot deny the fact that is a hazardous industry. Farmers across the globe have a high risk of work related injuries. One of the common causes of agricultural injuries is tractor rollovers and other motor and machinery related accidents. Due to the nature of their job they are also prone to skin diseases, lung infections, noise-induced hearing problems, sun strokes as well as certain types of cancers. Those exposed to pesticides may have serious illnesses and might even have kids with birth defects.  

However, that said, agriculture does play a significant part in the development of the human civilization as a whole. As Booker T. Washington said, “No race can prosper till it learns there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem”, agriculture sector is an integral part of the country.

Agriculture Essay 5 (600 words)

Agriculture is one sector that has been in place since thousands of years. It has developed over the years with the use of new equipments and techniques of farming and domestication. This is one sector that has not only seen immense growth but has also been the reason for growth of various other sectors.

The Growth and Development of Agricultural Sector

India is one such country which is largely dependent on the agricultural sector. Agriculture in India is not just a means of livelihood but a way of life. The government is continually making efforts to develop this sector. Let us learn how this sector has evolved with time.

Though agriculture is being practiced since centuries in India, it remained under developed for a pretty long time. We were unable to produce sufficient food for our people and foreign export was simply out of question. On the contrary, we had to purchase food grains from other countries. This was because agriculture in India depended on the monsoon.

In case, there was enough rain, the crops fertilized properly, when there wasn’t enough rain the crops just failed and most parts of the country were hit by famine. However, things changed with time. After independence, the government planned to bring about improvement in this sector. Dams were constructed, tube-wells and pump-sets were set up, better quality seeds, fertilizers were made available and new techniques were employed.

With the use of technologically advanced equipment, good irrigation facilities and with specialized knowledge about the field things began improving. We soon started producing much more than we required and subsequently started exporting food grains and different agricultural products. Our agricultural sector is now stronger than that of many countries. India stands first in the production of groundnuts and tea and ranks second in the production of sugarcane, rice, jute and oil seeds across the globe.

However, we still have a long way to go and the government is making efforts in this direction.

Negative Repercussions of Agriculture on Environment

As much as it has helped in the development of the human civilization and the growth of the country’s economy, agriculture has also had certain negative repercussions on the people involved in this sector as well as the environment as a whole. Here are the negative repercussions of agriculture on environment:

• Agriculture has led to deforestation. Many forests are cut to turn them into fields to cultivate crops. The negative impacts of deforestation and the need to control it is hidden from none.
• Not many of you may be aware that the building of watersheds and draining of water from the rivers for irrigation of fields leads to drier natural habitats.
• The runoff from the fields into the rivers and other water bodies results in that water getting poisoned owing to the use of excessive nutrients and insecticides.
• Topsoil depletion and groundwater contamination are some of the other issues that the agricultural activities have given way to.

Agriculture has thus impacted the soil and water resources negatively and this has had a major impact on the environment.

Agriculture is also considered to be a hazardous occupation. Those involved in farming are constantly exposed to different chemical based fertilizers and pesticides and the continual use of these can lead to several health hazards such as skin diseases, lung infections and certain other serious illnesses.

While agriculture has given so much to our society, it comes with its own set of cons that cannot be overlooked. While the government is doing so much to bring about growth and development in this field, it should also take measures to tackle the negative impact it is creating on the environment and those involved in the field.

Related Information:

Speech on Agriculture

Essay on Agriculture and Rural Development

Essay on Farmer Suicides in India

Essay on Indian Farmer

Speech on Indian Farmer

Essay on Organic Farming

Related Posts

Money essay, music essay, importance of education essay, education essay, newspaper essay, my hobby essay.

Essay on Agriculture for Students

Agriculture, often called the backbone of civilization, plays a vital role in our world. In this essay, we will explore the importance of agriculture, its historical significance, its role in feeding the world, and its future challenges and innovations.

The Foundations of Agriculture

Agriculture is the practice of growing crops and raising animals for food, fiber, and other products. It dates back thousands of years and is essential for human survival.

Historical Significance

Agriculture revolutionized human societies. It allowed people to settle in one place, create communities, and develop advanced civilizations. Without agriculture, we might still be nomadic hunters and gatherers.

Feeding the World

Agriculture is the primary source of food for the world’s population. Farmers work tirelessly to produce grains, vegetables, fruits, and livestock that nourish billions of people.

Crop Diversity

Agriculture provides a wide variety of crops, ensuring a balanced and diverse diet. Corn, rice, wheat, and potatoes are just a few examples of crops that sustain millions.

Role in the Economy

Agriculture is a significant part of the global economy. It provides employment opportunities and contributes to trade and exports, supporting the livelihoods of millions of people.

Challenges in Modern Agriculture

Modern agriculture faces challenges such as climate change, soil degradation, and pests. These challenges threaten food security and require innovative solutions.

Sustainable Farming Practices

Sustainable farming practices promote the health of the environment and the longevity of agriculture. Techniques like crop rotation and organic farming reduce the need for harmful chemicals.

Technological Advancements

Technology has revolutionized agriculture. Tractors, irrigation systems, and genetically modified crops have increased efficiency and yields, ensuring a stable food supply.

The Role of Farmers

Farmers are the heart of agriculture. Their hard work and dedication are essential to the success of farming operations and the well-being of communities.

Expert Opinions on Agriculture

Experts in agriculture emphasize its significance. They highlight the need for sustainable practices and the importance of supporting small-scale farmers.

The Future of Agriculture

The future of agriculture holds promise. Innovations like vertical farming, precision agriculture, and advanced irrigation systems are transforming the industry.

Global Food Security

Agriculture plays a key role in global food security. Efforts to improve farming practices and reduce food waste are essential to ensuring everyone has enough to eat.

The Importance of Agriculture Education

Education in agriculture is crucial. It prepares future generations to tackle agricultural challenges and innovate for a sustainable future.

A Call to Action

We all play a role in supporting agriculture. By making informed food choices, reducing food waste, and advocating for sustainable practices, we can contribute to a healthier planet.

Conclusion of Essay on Agriculture

In conclusion, agriculture is the foundation of our civilization, providing sustenance, economic stability, and opportunities for growth. Its historical significance cannot be overstated, and its role in feeding the world remains paramount. However, agriculture faces modern challenges that require innovative solutions and sustainable practices.

As we look to the future, it is crucial that we support agriculture and the dedicated farmers who feed our communities. By embracing technological advancements, promoting sustainability, and valuing agriculture education, we can ensure that agriculture continues to thrive, providing for generations to come. Agriculture is not just a field; it’s a way of life that sustains us all, and it is our responsibility to nurture it for a brighter future.

Also Check: Essay on Essay: All you need to know

NCERT Books

Agriculture In India Essay | Essay on Agriculture In India for Students and Children in English

Agriculture In India Essay: Agriculture has existed in India, since the Vedic times. Rigvedic treatise describes various agricultural activities, such as, ploughing, irrigation and cultivation of fruits and vegetables. Even rice and cotton were cultivated in the Indus Valley.

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Long and Short Essays on Agriculture In India for Kids and Students in English

Given below are two essays in English for students and children about the topic of ‘Agriculture In India’ in both long and short form. The first essay is a long essay on Agriculture In India of 400-500 words. This long essay about Agriculture In India is suitable for students of class 7, 8, 9 and 10, and also for competitive exam aspirants. The second essay is a short essay on Agriculture In India of 150-200 words. These are suitable for students and children in class 6 and below.

Long Essay on Agriculture In India 500 Words in English

Below we have given a long essay on Agriculture In India of 500 words is helpful for classes 7, 8, 9 and 10 and Competitive Exam Aspirants. This long essay on the topic is suitable for students of class 7 to class 10, and also for competitive exam aspirants.

Agriculture is the means of livelihood of almost two-thirds of the workforce in the country. It has always been India’s most important economic sector. Before 1947, Indian history was replete with famine, drought and food shortages. Between 1770 and 1880, as many as 27 food scarcities and famines were recorded. At least 20 million lives were lost in India in about 20 famines that had struck since 1850. Much of this loss was because of the wrong colonial policies, which aimed to derive maximum economic gain at the cost of human suffering and misery.

After the British had created a transport infrastructure in the first half of the 19 th century, they began encouraging farmers to grow crops that could be exported. The boom in export and trade accompanied by rising prices forced farmers to shift to cash crops like cotton, indigo, poppy and sugarcane. The area under food grains subsequently shrank. In other words, efforts to improve agriculture in colonial India were directly linked to the needs of the British industries.

After Independence, India made rapid strides in the agricultural sector. Dependence of India on agricultural imports in the early 1960s, convinced planners that India’s growing population, as well as concerns about national independence, security and political stability, required self-sufficiency in food production. This perception led to a programme of agricultural improvement called the Green Revolution, to a public distribution system and price support system for farmers.

The growth in food grain production is a result of concentrated efforts to increase all the Green Revolution inputs needed for higher yields: better seeds, more fertilisers, improved irrigation and education of farmers. Although increased irrigation has helped to lessen year-to-year fluctuations in farm production resulting from the vagaries of the monsoons, it has not eliminated them.

Non-traditional crops of India, such as summer mung (a variety of lentil, part of the pulse family), soyabeans, peanuts and sunflowers are gradually gaining importance. Steps have been taken to ensure an increase in the supply of non-chemical fertilisers at reasonable prices.

There are 53 fertiliser quality control laboratories in the country. Though the Green Revolution increased yields greatly, it aimed at the better endowed regions. For millions of farmers languishing in the drylands, constituting more than 70% of the cultivable lands, it continues to be a futile struggle. Despite emphasis on dryland farming during the past several decades, the scenario still remains grim.

The undulating topography and the irregular rainfall patterns have combined to aggravate the situation. Out of 141 million hectare of cultivated area, dryland area constitutes 85 million hectare i.e., 60% of the total cultivated area. The dry lands produce about 42% of the country’s food which shows that the future of farming lies in these areas. A large quantity of many nutritious crops like wheat, ragi, pulses, fruits, oilseeds grown in the country come from these areas. The poor yields and the fluctuations in production are indications of the scant attention dry lands have received from policymakers and the planners.

The-problem of increasing productivity on dry lands has serious socio-economic implications. With every passing year, the gap between the farmer’s yields in irrigated areas and in the dry farming regions is widening. One year of drought is enough to push a farmer into a deep well of poverty for another two to three years. Drought is a recurring phenomenon in arid and semi-arid areas. Fifty years after Independence, life for millions of people somehow surviving in the dry lands continues to be worse than ever before.

India’s topography, soils, rainfall and the availability of water for irrigation have been major determinants of the crop and livestock patterns characteristic of Indian agriculture, The monsoons, moreover, play a critical role in determining whether the harvest will be bountiful, average or poor in any given year. In the absence of sufficient irrigation measures, the areas receiving scanty rainfall suffer.

India is among the top global producers of staple food crops. But even then, the productivity of its fields is far below that of Brazil, US and France. This is due to small size’of their landholdings, their fragmentation, high cost of technology and lack of awareness. Many agricultural lands are also being diverted for commercial exploitation.

A recent study by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations concludes that there has been hardly any change in the volume of exports. Tariff peaks or high import duties continue to block exports from the developing countries. Tariffs still remain very high, especially in the case of cereals, sugar and dairy products. Sanitary and phytosanitary measures, which were enforced to ensure the quality of imported products, actually continue to be a major barrier in diversifying exports in horticulture and meat products.

Realising the importance of Indian agricultural production for economic development, the Central Government has played an active role in all aspects of agricultural development. Planning is centralised and priorities, policies, and resource allocations are decided at the central level. Food and price policies also are decided by the Central Government. Thus, although agriculture in India is constitutionally the responsibility of the states rather than the Central Government, the latter plays a key role in formulating policies and providing financial resources for agriculture.

Short Essay on Agriculture In India 300 Words in English

The Budget 2014 gave a new lease of life to the agricultural sector. Firstly, the budget aimed at the stabilisation of the prices of farm products. Secondly, farming markets’ growth would be encouraged. Thirdly, the operation of middlemen in the supply chain would be checked.

More number of agriculture and horticulture universities would be opened, especially in Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh. Kisan Television and rural internet network are also on the planner. Warehousing facilities would be escalated. Landless farmers would be allocated financial aid through NABARD. A rural credit fund will also be set-up within NABARD.

If declining food grain production and access to food remain the two biggest problems confronting the country, there must be something terribly wrong with the way we look at the agriculture. With more than 70% of the population still engaged in agriculture and allied activities and an equal percentage of farmers tilling an average of 0.2 hectares of land and somehow surviving against all odds, the time has come to set the balance right. Whether we accept it or not, India is gradually moving back to the Pre-green Revolution days of a ‘ship-to-mouth’ existence, when food was largely imported to feed the hungry. It was the political maturity of the then leadership that led to self-sufficiency on the food front. Few will still question what Jawaharlal Nehru once said

“Everything else can wait, but not agriculture.”

Agriculture In India Essay Word Meanings for Simple Understanding

• Treatise – a formal and systematic exposition in writing of the principles of a subject, generally longer and more detailed than an essay
• Colonial – of, concerning or pertaining to a colony or colonies
• Infrastructure – the basic, underlying framework or features of a system or organisation
• Vagaries – an unpredictable or erratic action, occurrence, course of instance
• Undulating – to have a wavy form or surface, bend with successive curves in alternate directions
• Topography – the detailed mapping or charting of the features of a relatively small area, district, or locality
• Languishing – lacking of vigour or spirit
• Livestock – the horses, cattle, sheep, and other useful animals kept or raised on a farm or ranch
• Tariff – an official list or table showing the duties or customs imposed by a government on imports or exports
• Horticulture – the cultivation of a garden, orchard, or nursery, the cultivation of flowers, fruits, vegetables, or ornamental plants

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Essay on Agriculture

Introduction.

Agriculture is the most common practice in India, where people engage in farming crops for their livelihood. Through this essay on agriculture, we can educate children about its significance and teach them that agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy. We will also see how the agricultural sector has changed over the recent years in this agriculture essay in English.

The agriculture in India essay will give a sneak peek into the world of farming. Children will be able to learn how farmers ensure to keep our economy stable by producing different yields. Agriculture has existed in India for a long time, but now, the use of modern equipment and technology has given it a new meaning. Through agriculture essay topics, we will be able to better comprehend this field, and children will be inspired to write a short essay on the topic.

Importance of Agriculture

The essay on agriculture begins by highlighting its importance. Not many children know where exactly the food we eat comes from. Surely, they know that their parents bought the vegetables and cereals from the market and cooked them. But are they aware of how these goods are produced? The agriculture in India essay will delve into these aspects and make it easy for children to understand.

Farmers work day and night to produce food, and we are indebted to them for their efforts as they ensure our sustenance. Along with employing many labourers for farming and rearing, the agricultural sector is a major contributor to the national income of the country by exporting commodities like tea, coffee, spices, vegetables etc. Moreover, agriculture plays a significant role in the economic development of the nation as people depend on it for food and livelihood. Hence, it is best to enlighten them about agriculture through this agriculture essay in English.

Negative Impacts of Agriculture

Though we say that agriculture is a boon to the economy, some of the agriculture essay topics will point out that it causes harm to both the environment and the people involved. Since it requires large areas for cultivating crops, trees are cut down, and forests are cleared to make space for agricultural activities. Besides, farmers utilise water from rivers and ponds for irrigation, and this will lead to the fast drying of water resources.

Further, the essay on agriculture discusses that agriculture creates a negative impact on people as well. As there is excessive use of pesticides and fertilisers to protect the crops from damage, this will affect the people who intake the produce. Along with causing many health issues, the use of chemicals leads to the depletion of the topsoil and pollution of groundwater.

We can conclude the agriculture in India essay by saying that we must be wary of its pros and cons though agriculture has given so much to society and the nation. We must incorporate innovative technologies in agriculture to ease the processes, and at the same time, we should limit the damage done to the environment. Through this agriculture essay in English, we can inspire children to spread awareness about the negative effects of agriculture on people and the environment. For more useful and informative essays for kids, check out BYJU’S website.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the importance of the essay on agriculture.

The essay on agriculture will make children aware of the meaning and significance of agriculture. Children will be able to understand how agriculture is an important occupation in India and ensures our survival.

How can children write an essay on agriculture?

Children can refer to the sample agriculture essay provided by BYJU’S to write their essay on the topic. As the essay is written in simple language, children will be able to easily follow it and thus write an essay on it.

What are the negative sides of agriculture?

Agriculture causes deforestation and soil pollution as forests are cleared for cultivation. Fertilisers and chemicals are used to protect crops from insects, which leads to the depletion of the soil. It also results in various health issues when people intake food.

Register with BYJU'S & Download Free PDFs

Register with byju's & watch live videos.

• Classroom Programme
• Interview Guidance
• Online Programme
• Drishti Store
• My Bookmarks
• My Progress
• Change Password
• From The Editor's Desk
• How To Use The New Website
• Help Centre

Achievers Corner

• Topper's Interview
• About Civil Services
• UPSC Prelims Syllabus
• GS Prelims Strategy
• Prelims Analysis
• GS Paper-I (Year Wise)
• GS Paper-I (Subject Wise)
• CSAT Strategy
• Previous Years Papers
• Practice Quiz
• Weekly Revision MCQs
• 60 Steps To Prelims
• Prelims Refresher Programme 2020

Mains & Interview

• Mains GS Syllabus
• Mains GS Strategy
• Mains Answer Writing Practice
• Essay Strategy
• Fodder For Essay
• Model Essays
• Drishti Essay Competition
• Ethics Strategy
• Ethics Case Studies
• Ethics Discussion
• Ethics Previous Years Q&As
• Papers By Years
• Papers By Subject
• Be MAINS Ready
• Awake Mains Examination 2020
• Interview Strategy
• Interview Guidance Programme

Current Affairs

• Daily News & Editorial
• Daily CA MCQs
• Sansad TV Discussions
• Monthly CA Consolidation
• Monthly Editorial Consolidation
• Monthly MCQ Consolidation

Drishti Specials

• To The Point
• Important Institutions
• Learning Through Maps
• PRS Capsule
• Summary Of Reports
• Gist Of Economic Survey

Study Material

• NCERT Books
• NIOS Study Material
• IGNOU Study Material
• Yojana & Kurukshetra
• Chhatisgarh
• Uttar Pradesh
• Madhya Pradesh

Test Series

• UPSC Prelims Test Series
• UPSC Mains Test Series
• UPPCS Prelims Test Series
• UPPCS Mains Test Series
• BPSC Prelims Test Series
• RAS/RTS Prelims Test Series
• Daily Editorial Analysis
• YouTube PDF Downloads
• Strategy By Toppers
• Ethics - Definition & Concepts
• Mastering Mains Answer Writing
• Places in News
• UPSC Mock Interview
• PCS Mock Interview
• Interview Insights
• Prelims 2019
• Product Promos
• Daily Updates

Agriculture

Make Your Note

Agriculture Reforms

• 04 Apr 2020
• 12 min read
• GS Paper - 3
• Direct & Indirect Farm Subsidies
• Agricultural Marketing
• Agricultural Pricing
• Growth & Development

This article is based on “Reforming Indian Agriculture” which was published in Economic and Political Weekly on 14/03/2020. It talks about challenges and solutions pertaining to India’s Agriculture sector.

India’s agriculture policies have had multiple mandates, including a production imperative (national food security), a consumer imperative (keeping food prices low for a large low-income population), and a farmer welfare imperative (raising farmer’s income).

Tensions between these mandates have resulted in costly, contradictory policies whose costs have been increasingly borne by farmers, the government purse, and the natural environment.

Realising the significance of Agriculture in India’s socio-economic order, the government has set an agenda of doubling farmer incomes by raising productivity and cutting down costs, and going for diversification towards high value agriculture.

However, Indian Agriculture is in the need for many fundamental reforms.

Significance of Agriculture in India

• Highest Employment Provider: More Indians depend directly or indirectly on agriculture for employment than on any other sector.
• Addresses Malnutrition and provides food security: Agriculture holds a key to reducing India’s malnutrition problem, directly affecting public health and worker productivity.
• Agricultural growth of 4%, would add at least a percentage point to GDP, increase exports and improve India’s trade deficit.
• Economic transformation in developing nations is propelled by increases in agricultural incomes underpinning industrial growth. For example, China's economic growth.
• India’s vital land and water resources, which farmers used for agricultural production, assumes more significance especially in the face of mounting scarcity, environmental degradation, and climate change.

Actions Taken by Government to Increase Farmer Income

• Subsidizing Input Costs: Providing water,power and fertilizer subsidies to decrease production costs.
• Green Revolution: Increasing yields through better farming practices and timely availability of quality inputs, especially high yielding seeds, chemical fertilisers and water.
• Stabilizing Output Prices: Through minimum support prices (MSP) and public procurement.
• Augmenting Non-Crop related Agriculture Income: KUSUM scheme.
• Providing Direct Income Transfers to Farmers: Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN).

Associated Challenges In India’s Agriculture

Issue Related to Subsidies

• Agricultural subsidies were introduced to incentivise farmers to take up the green revolution. Subsidies also intended to reduce the cost of production for farmers and to check food price inflation and protect consumers.
• Subsidised Urea has led to massive overuse of nitrogenous fertilisers, leading to damaged soils and pollution of local water bodies.
• Similarly, power subsidies have not only led to an alarming overuse of groundwater,, but also it has severely damaged the health of power distribution companies.
• Credit subsidies like loan waivers have weakened the Indian banking system (due to increased NPAs), having negative spillover effects on the economy.
• Output price supports in the form of minimum support price (MSP) basically apply to only a handful of crops, especially wheat and rice that are procured by the government in a handful of states.

Consumer Oriented Policies

• Whenever there is a price rise in any agricultural commodity, the government imposes restrictions on exports to protect Indian consumers. It creates hindrances for farmers taking advantage of high prices in foreign markets.
• This, coupled with the Essential Commodities Act (ECA), has meant lower private investment in export infrastructure such as warehouses and cold storage systems.
• This lack of storage infrastructure compels farmers to go for Distress sale.

Flawed Agricultural Marketing Policies

• Due to restrictions imposed by Agricultural Produce Market Committee Acts passed by various states, Indian farmers today can only sell their produce at Farmgate or local market (haat) to village aggregators, APMC mandis and to government at the minimum support price (MSP).
• Time cost of transactions
• Quality assessment challenges
• Transportation logistics

Marginal Land Holdings

• In India, nearly 85% of agricultural land holdings are small and marginal (less than 2 hectare).

Slow Agricultural Growth Rate

• The Ashok Dalwai Committee Report on doubling farmers’ income, estimated that the doubling farmers' income will require an agricultural growth rate of 10-11% per annum, until 2022–23.
• However, agricultural growth rate and farmers' income growth rate has been stagnating and well below the required rate of growth.

Steps to Increase Farmers' Income

Addressing Subsidies Problem

• Freeing up input prices to market levels, or charging an optimum cost pricing for fertilisers, power, agri-credit, and canal waters fees.
• Channelizing the resulting savings for expenditures on investments in agricultural R&D, irrigation, marketing infrastructure, building value chains by involving Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and linking farms to organised retail, food processing, and export markets.
• Direct income transfers to farmers’ should be promoted by leveraging the trinity of Jan Dhan–Aadhaar–Mobile (JAM) to reduce the leakages and pilferage.

Allowing Land Leasing

• In remote dry areas, leasing land to solar or wind power companies could provide farmers with relatively higher and steadier incomes.
• The Model Land Lease Act, 2016 offers an appropriate template for the states and UTs to draft their own piece of legislations, in consonance with the local requirements and adopt an enabling Act.

Increasing Avenues for Non-Farm Income

• Subsidised electricity should be rationalised, as today solar water pumps are operationally and financially sustainable.
• This will reduce government burden of electricity subsidies, while at the same time allowing surplus power from the solar powered pumps to be sold back to the grid.
• Promoting value-added uses of biomass like Bamboo for construction and other applications, rice husk and bagasse-based mini-power plants, and ethanol from sugar cane and corn can all help augment farmer incomes in sustainable ways while developing more dynamic local rural economies.

Improving Agricultural Export Scenario

• India needs to address the composition of its agriculture export basket. Currently agricultural exports constitute 10% of the country’s exports, but the majority of its exports are low value, raw or semi-processed, and marketed in bulk.
• The share of India’s high value and value-added agriculture produce is less than 15%.
• Robust agriculture exports will increase the demand for India’s farm output (and hence, incomes of farmers).
• In this context, the government has launched Agriculture Export Policy 2018 . It is aimed at doubling the agricultural exports and integrating Indian farmers and agricultural products with the global value chains.

Investing in Agriculture Infrastructure

• The most sustainable way to augment farmers’ real incomes over the long term is through investments in productivity-enhancing areas, ranging from agricultural research and development (R&D), to irrigation to the development of rural and marketing infrastructure.
• Local level investments that seek to build village level storage facilities, better surface irrigation management, and investments in drip irrigation, tile drainage, trap crops, etc, that can give results in a relatively short period of time.

Agricultural Marketing Reforms

• Farmers’ income can improve substantially if they are able to capture a greater share in the supply chain from farm gate to consumer.
• For this to happen, farmers must have the freedom to sell what they want, where they want, and when they want without any restrictions on sale, stocking, movement, and export of farm produce.
• These will require legal and institutional changes, major investments in market infrastructure and storage (including cold-chain storage), and incentives for the creation and operation of infrastructure by FPOs.
• In this context, the state needs to adopt Model Agriculture Produce and Livestock Marketing Act, 2017 .

Need For Cooperative Federalism

• Agriculture is a state subject and many of the important levers—water, power, irrigation, extension, etc—are controlled by the states. However, the central government continues to play a larger role.
• Thus, reforms can only succeed if the central and state governments work closely together in a spirit of “cooperative federalism.”

Essay on Agriculture and It’s Significance

Agriculture is the main occupation in India. Two-third of population is dependent on agriculture directly or indirectly.

It is not merely a source of livelihood but a way of life. It is the main source of food, fodder and fuel. It is the basic foundation of economic development.

Agriculture provides highest contribution to national income.

“Agriculture needed top most priority because the Govt. and the nation would both fail to succeed if agriculture could not be successful”

Literally speaking agriculture means the production of crops and live stock on a farm. Generally speaking, agriculture is cultivation of crops. In Economics, agriculture means cultivation of crops along with animal husbandry, poultry, dairy farming, fishing and even forestry.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

Agriculture is the back bone of our economy. Agriculture is important not only from economic point of view but has deep rooted influence on our social, political and cultural life. In the words of Jawahar Lal Nehru, “Agriculture needed top most priority because the Govt. and the nation would both fail to succeed if agriculture could not be successful”

The following points explain the significance of agriculture:

(i) Contribution to National Income:

Contribution to national income from agriculture, forests and other primary activities is 24%. In 1950-51 contribution of agricultural sector to national income was 59% and in 2004-05, it came down to 24.4%. Contribution of agricultural sector in national income is considerable. In rich countries the agriculture is quite developed but contribution is very little. In USA agriculture contributes only 2%. In under-developed countries like India, contribution of agriculture is national income was 27%.

(ii) Main source of Food:

Agriculture provides food for Nation. Before 1947, we had acute food shortage but after 1969 Green Revolution in agriculture has made us self sufficient in food production. In 2003-04, production of rice was 870 lakh metric tonnes and of wheat 721 lakh metric tonnes.

(iii) Agriculture and Industrial development:

For industrial development, agriculture plays active role. It provides essential raw materials to many industries like cotton textiles, jute, sugar, vegetables, oil, tinned food, Cigarettes and rubber etc.

(iv) Sources of Revenue:

Land revenue, excise duty on agro-based goods, taxes on production and sale of agricultural machinery forms a goods part of sources of Govt. Revenue.

(v) Source of Foreign trade:

Foreign trade is associated with agriculture. We export tea, tobacco, spices and coffee etc. Other agricultural exports include cotton, textiles, jute goods and sugar etc. So total share of agricultural exports becomes 70%.

(vi) Transport:

Means of transport are required for transporting food grains from farms to consumers and agricultural raw materials to markets and factories. Transport is also needed for taking chemical fertilizers, seeds, diesel and agricultural equipment from markets and factories to villages and farms.

(vii) Source of saving:

Green revolution has increased the production manifold and farmers become rich. The additional income earned by these farmers can be saved and invested in Banks.

(viii) Capital formation:

Agriculture also helps in capital formation. Surplus income from agriculture production can be invested in other sources like banks, shares etc. Use of tractors and harvesters increase capital formation.

(ix) International importance:

India ranks top position in production of groundnuts and sugarcane. It has second position in production of rice and staple cotton. It has third position in production of tobacco. Our agricultural universities are working as role model for other developing nations.

(x) Way of life:

Agriculture in India is not only a source of livelihood but has become a way life. Our fairs, festivals and customs are influenced by agriculture. In politics; too, agricultural community has say.

(xi) Effect on prices:

Sufficient production of food grains will bring stability in prices of food grains. This brings stability in cost of living and wages also. Agriculture influences the price level. So increased production of agriculture keeps the price stable.

(xii) Source of labour supply:

Agriculture is the main occupation in India. Majority of people live in villages. So labour force in various sectors like police, defence and industries is provided by villages disguised unemployment present in agricultural sector can be used as source of supply for other sectors.

(xiii) Economic development:

India is agricultural state. 71% people live in villages and most of these depend on agriculture. So development of agriculture gives boost is economy. Progress of industry, trade and transport is impossible without progress of agriculture. Stability of prices also depends on agriculture growth.

Related Articles:

• Importance of Agriculture in Indian Economy
• 8 Main Features of Indian Agriculture – Explained!
• 8 Main Features of Occupational Structure in India
• Agriculture and the Development of Indian Economy

45,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today

Meet top uk universities from the comfort of your home, here’s your new year gift, one app for all your, study abroad needs, start your journey, track your progress, grow with the community and so much more.

Verification Code

An OTP has been sent to your registered mobile no. Please verify

Thanks for your comment !

Our team will review it before it's shown to our readers.

• School Education /

Essay on Farmer for School Students: 100, 200, and 300 Words

• Updated on  
• Mar 15, 2024

Have you ever considered how much suffering a farmer may have endured while growing all those things you just threw away in a matter of seconds, when leaving food on your plate and putting it in the trash? I’m sure most of you did this without even thinking twice. Given that food is readily available, just a tap away, there’s really no reason to suffer or think too much these days. In general, we don’t regard the farmers who oversee agriculture , as the backbone of our nation, India, or our food.  Continue reading some of the greatest examples of essay on farmer to have a better understanding of their significance in our day-to-day existence.

Also Read: Essay on Village Life

Table of Contents

• 1 7 Points to keep in in Mind while Writing an Essay on Farmer
• 2 Essay on Farmer in 100 Words
• 3 Essay on Farmer in 200 Words
• 4 Essay on Farmer in 300 Words

7 Points to keep in in Mind while Writing an Essay on Farmer

• Mention the reason for the country’s flourishing agriculture i.e. the farmers.
• Farmers take up the job of feeding billions of people of the country.
• It is important to keep in mind that at very present moment, somewhere a farmer is working to produce the food that we eat.
• We should take initiative to help and support our farmers and not praise them with words merely.
• Farmers need support from the government so that they continue practising farming and serve their nation.
• In the current scenario, nearly 30% farmers commit suicide on and average daily.
• The current condition of the farmers in the country need to be improved so that they can have a prosperous future.

Essay on Farmer in 100 Words

The Indian economy relies significantly on its farmers. It is important to realize that agriculture provides a living for half of the people in our nation. Farmers give us food, animal feed, and other raw resources for a variety of industries. They are an essential part of our lives, yet occasionally they go to sleep at night without eating a proper meal. They find it challenging to manage their food and housing needs. 

The biggest producers of wheat, rice, pulses, spices, and spice-related items are Indian farmers. In addition to manufacturing the food items listed above, they are also engaged in the production of dairy goods, meat products, poultry, and fisheries. Farmers encounter several difficulties and problems, but there is still more work to be done in terms of the changes occurring in rural regions. 

Also Read: Essay on Respect

Essay on Farmer in 200 Words

The heart of India’s agriculture industry is its farmers. It is significant to remember that for the vast majority of Indians, agriculture is their only source of income. We find it easy to put food on our tables, thus it is impossible to understand the role that farmers play. They put in a lot of effort, though, so we can eat everything and whenever we want. 

Unfortunately, Indian farmers deal with a number of agricultural-related issues. One example is India’s insufficiently maintained irrigation system. Farmers have many difficulties, including taking on bank debt, as a result of their restricted access to irrigation, modern equipment, markets, roads, and regulations. They are under tremendous pressure to increase agricultural productivity in order to make a profit. 

They are able to grow crops and feed the country despite all these obstacles. Instead of craving for luxury, they pray for an abundant harvest, an acceptable price for their crops, and an increasing amount of produce. 

The lifestyles of farmers and residents of big urban areas differ. They spend time in the fields from sunrise to sunset, spending very little time with friends and family. Our nation’s abundant food supply is only a result of the farmers’ unwavering commitment. 

Also Read: Essay on Aryabhatta

Essay on Farmer in 300 Words

It may surprise you to learn that farmers make over about 20% of India’s GDP. In India, farming has traditionally been one of the most significant economic activities. With about 70% of the people working in agriculture and associated sectors, farmers are the backbone of our country. 

Farmers are vital members of our society. We are able to sit back and enjoy our meals at home because of their commitment only. 

Farmers cultivate a wide range of crops, but the climate has a significant impact on how productive they are. When the weather is favourable, crops produce a healthy harvest; otherwise, all of their patience and hard work goes in vain. In addition to growing crops, farmers also operate small businesses in the dairy, horticultural, fishing, meat, poultry, and other industries.

Indian farmers are in a terrible situation as a result of their endless work and evenings spent hungry or without sleep. You have probably seen and heard a lot of news reports and incidents concerning farmer suicides and fatalities. They receive almost nothing or their dues on time because of the intermediaries, which is one of the main causes of this dire situation. Furthermore, farmers lack access to necessities that we take for granted, such as groceries, medical care, school supplies, and—above all—healthy food and shelter. As a result, many believe that attempting suicide is the easiest way to put an end to all of their problems. 

Global warming is another element that contributes to the terrible conditions of farmers. Since global warming impacts every aspect of our globe, agriculture is also impacted. Unpredictable weather patterns and natural disasters compound their never-ending problems. This is one of the causes of crop failure and the rise in farmer suicides. 

However, the government and numerous other nonprofit organisations have recently introduced a number of programmes aimed at enhancing the standard of living for Indian farmers and relieving them of their debt.

Related Articles

To write an essay on farmers, give an overview of their life, their occupation and the latest developments in the agricultural sector. Start with an informative introduction where you can highlight facts and figures, such as the total agricultural land in India, how much revenue is generated from agriculture, etc. Add details in your essay such as the types of farming practised, its importance, etc. Make sure to conclude your essay on a positive note.

A person engaged in agricultural activities, such as cultivating the soil, growing crops, and raising livestock for food, fibre, and other products is known as a farmer. Farmers play a crucial role in food production and are essential to the global economy.

The life of a farmer is influenced by several factors, such as climate and weather conditions, fluctuations in commodity prices and market demand for their products, advances in agricultural technology, government policies and regulations, land access and ownership, education and training, etc.

For more information on such informative topics for your school, visit our essay writing page and follow Leverage Edu .

Nidhi Mishra

Nidhi Mishra is a seasoned senior content writer with more than eight years of diverse experience in the field of education. Her varied career encompasses work in teaching, training, counselling, developing curriculum, and content creation. Nidhi has a solid background in education and has developed her abilities to meet the diverse needs of students, especially students who want to study abroad. Throughout her career, Nidhi has been an invaluable resource to students with their test-taking efforts, offering thorough career assistance and insightful advice on how to navigate the complexity of the system of education. Her speciality is creating interesting and educational content that is specifically designed to fulfil the needs of students who want to pursue higher education abroad. Together with her wonderful writing skills, Nidhi's love of education has allowed her to produce content that has a lasting impression on readers, educators, and students alike. She is committed to providing high-quality, timely, and insightful content because she believes that education can empower people.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Contact no. *

Connect With Us

45,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. take the first step today..

Resend OTP in

Need help with?

Study abroad.

UK, Canada, US & More

IELTS, GRE, GMAT & More

Scholarship, Loans & Forex

Country Preference

New Zealand

Which English test are you planning to take?

Which academic test are you planning to take.

Not Sure yet

When are you planning to take the exam?

Already booked my exam slot

Within 2 Months

Want to learn about the test

Which Degree do you wish to pursue?

When do you want to start studying abroad.

January 2024

September 2024

What is your budget to study abroad?

How would you describe this article ?

Please rate this article

We would like to hear more.

Have something on your mind?

Make your study abroad dream a reality in January 2022 with

India's Biggest Virtual University Fair

Essex Direct Admission Day

Why attend .

Don't Miss Out