INDIAN AGRICULTURE KEY TAKE AWAYS THE READINGS 3

Transcript:INDIAN AGRICULTURE KEY TAKE AWAYS THE READINGS 3:
INDIAN AGRICULTURE KEY TAKE AWAYS THE READINGS 3 goals of agricultural development in India (a) GROWTH- achieve 4% growth in agriculture and raise incomes, increasing productivity (land, labor, total factor), structural transformation within agriculture and farm to non-farm sector; (b) INCLUSIVENESS - second goal is inclusiveness by focusing on small and marginal farmers, lagging regions, Eastern India, rainfed areas, disadvantaged groups, women, contribution to poverty reduction and food and nutrition security (c) SUSTAINABILITY - third goal is to maintain sustainability of agriculture by focusing on environmental concerns, climate change and resilience IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN THE ECONOMY AND MAJOR AREAS OF CONCERN CONTRIBUTION TO GDP: one-sixth but has the potential of contributing more through forward and backward linkage effects. There are significant linkages between farm and non-farm sectors. The importance of agriculture on non-agricultural sector growth is significant (Johsnston and Mellor,1961 and Mellor,1976). Later, the importance of structure change within agriculture and the role of rural non-farm sector has also been emphasised (Mellor, 1976; Liedholm and Kilby, 1989; Ranis and Stewart, 1993). CONTRIBUTION TO EMPLOYMENT: Agriculture remains an important sector in terms of providing livelihoods, provides employment to 56% of the indian workforce. Although employment elasticity of agriculture declines over time, the absolute size of the rural labour force continues till economies attain higher levels of transformation. Labour productivity in agriculture can be increased with structural change in agriculture, development of rural non-farm sector or migration to urban areas. Many countries fail to manage this transformation at an adequate rate and face political problems with low incomes of the agricultural population (Rosegrant and Hazell, 2000). FOOD SECURITY: Agriculture has significant linkages to food and nutritional security (IFPRI, 2015). This sector also plays an important role in adaptation and mitigation strategies relating to climate change (IPCC, 2001 and 2007). Similarly, agriculture development is crucial for reduction in poverty (World Bank, 2008). Thus, farm sector is also crucial for inclusiveness and sustainability. CONTRIBUTES TO SDGS : At global level, a goal on agriculture is included in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Goal 2 of SDGs includes targets on agricultural productivity and sustainability as agriculture is also critical to achieve many other SDGs relating to hunger, malnutrition, climate change, gender equity, natural resources protection and jobs. There are also initiatives like Compact 2025 which aims to end hunger and under nutrition by 2025. This goal has to be attained five years before targeted achievements