Agriculture in India

Agriculture provides the principal means of livelihood for over 60% of India's population. Despite a steady decline in its share of the GDP, it remains the largest economic sector in the country. Low and volatile growth rates and the recent escalation of agrarian crisis in several parts of the Indian countryside are a threat not only to national food security, but also to the economic well-being of the nation as a whole.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the Indian economy. Agriculture and allied sectors contribute nearly 22 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP of India), while about 65-70 per cent of the population is dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. The agricultural output, however, depends on monsoon as nearly 60 per cent of area sown is dependent on rainfall.

An all time record in production of food grains of 230.67 million tonnes is estimated in 2007-08 as per 4th Advance Estimates. This is about 13.39 million tones or 6.2% more than last year's production of food grains. The production of rice is estimated at 96.43 million tonnes which is about 3 million tonnes more, production of wheat is estimated at 78.40 million tonnes which is 2.6 million tonnes more, production of coarse cereals is estimated at 40.73 million tonnes which is 6.8 million tonnes more and production of pulses is estimated at 15.11 million tonnes which is about 9.1 lakh tonnes more than the production during 2006-07. The oilseeds production during 2007-08 is estimated at 288.25 lakh tonnes which is about 45 lakh tonnes more than the oilseeds production during 2006-07. The sugarcane production is estimated at 3405.57 lakh tones which is about 150 lakh tonnes less than the production during 2006-07. Cotton production is estimated at 258.06 lakh bales (of 170 kg. each) which is 31.74 lakh bales more than the production during 2006-07. Jute and Mesta production during 2007-08 is estimated at 111.76 lakh bales (of 180 kg each) which is about 0.97 lakh bales less than the production during 2006-07.