Agriculture in India has a significant history. Today, India ranks second worldwide in farm output.

Agriculture and allied sectors like forestry and fisheries accounted for 16.6% of [1][2] the GDP in 2009, about 50% of the total workforce. The economic contribution of agriculture to India's GDP is steadily declining with the country's broad-based economic growth. Still, agriculture is demographically the broadest economic sector and plays a significant role in the overall socio-economic fabric of India.

Overview[edit]
As Per the 2010 FAO world agriculture statistics, India is the world's largest producer of many fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, major spices, select fresh meats, select fibrous crops such as jute, several staples such as millets and castor oil seed. India is the second largest producer of wheat and rice, the world's major food staples.[3] India is also the world's second or third largest producer of several dry fruits, agriculture-based textile raw materials,roots and tuber crops, pulses, farmed fish, eggs, coconut, sugarcane and numerousvegetables. India ranked within the world's five largest producers of over 80% of agricultural produce items, including many cash crops such as coffee and cotton, in 2010.[3] India is also one of the world's five largest producers of livestock and poultry meat, with one of the fastest growth rates, as of 2011.[4] One report from 2008 claimed India's population is growing faster than its ability to produce rice and wheat.[5] Other recent studies claim India can easily feed its growing population, plus produce wheat and rice for global exports, if it can reduce food staple spoilage, improve its infrastructure and raise its farm productivity to those achieved by other developing countries such as Brazil and China.[6][7] In fiscal year ending June 2011, with a normal monsoon season, Indian agriculture accomplished an all-time record production of 85.9 million tonnes of wheat, a 6.4% increase from a year earlier. Rice output in India also hit a new record at 95.3 million tonnes, a 7% increase from the year earlier.[8] Lentils and many other food staples production also increased year over year. Indian farmers, thus produced about 71 kilograms of wheat and 80 kilograms of rice for every member of Indian population in 2011. The per capita supply of rice every year in India is now higher than the per capita consumption of rice every year in Japan.[9] India exported around 2 million metric tonnes of wheat and 2.1 million metric tonnes of rice in 2011 to Africa, Nepal, Bangladesh and other regions around the world.[8] Aquaculture and catch fishery is amongst the fastest growing industries in India. Between 1990 and 2010, Indian fish capture harvest doubled, while aquaculture harvest tripled. In 2008, India was the world's sixth largest producer of marine and freshwater capture fisheries, and the second largest aquaculture farmed fish producer. India exported 600,000 metric tonnes of fish products to nearly half of all the world's countries.[10][11][12]

India has shown a steady average nationwide annual increase in the kilograms produced per hectare for various agricultural items, over the last 60 years. These gains have come mainly from India's green revolution, improving road and power generation infrastructure, knowledge of gains and reforms.[13] Despite these recent accomplishments, agriculture in India has the potential for major productivity and total output gains, because crop yields in India are still just 30% to 60% of the best sustainable crop yields achievable in the farms of developed as well as other developing countries.[14] Additionally, losses after harvest due to poor infrastructure and unorganised retail cause India to experience some of the highest food losses in the world.[15][16]

History[edit]
Main article: History of agriculture in India The invention of agriculture is one of the great revolutions of human history. It includes the food production and domestication which led to significant changes in human society, population increase and biological changes. However, this revolution is best demonstrated at Margaretha (Period-I Neolithic period) in which the sense of the revolution ultimately set the platform for the rise of urbanisation in the Indian Subcontinent.[17] In the period of the Neolithic revolution (roughly 8000-5000 BCE.), agriculture was far from the dominant mode of support for human societies. But those who adopted it, have survived and increased, and passed their techniques of production to the next generation. This transformation of knowledge was the base of further development in agriculture.[18] Vedic literature provides some of the earliest written record of agriculture in India. Rigveda hymns, for example, describes plowing, fallowing, irrigation, fruit and vegetable cultivation. Other historical evidence suggests rice and cotton were cultivated in the Indus Valley, and plowing patterns from the Bronze Age have been excavated at Kalibangan in Rajasthan.[19] Bhumivargaha, another ancient Indian Sanskrit text, suggested to be 2500 years old, classifies agricultural land into twelve categories: urvara (fertile), ushara (barren), maru (desert), aprahata (fallow), shadvala (grassy), pankikala (muddy), jalaprayah (watery), kachchaha (land contiguous to water), sharkara (full of pebbles and pieces of limestone), sharkaravati (sandy), nadimatruka (land watered from a river), and devamatruka (rainfed). Some archaeologists believe rice was a domesticated crop along the banks of the Indian river ganges in the sixth millennium BC. So were species of winter cereals (barley, oats, and wheat) and legumes (lentil and chickpea) grown in Northwest India before the sixth millennium BC. Other crops cultivated in India 3000 to 6000 years ago, include sesame, linseed, safflower, mustards, castor, mung bean, black gram, horse gram, pigeonpea, field pea, grass pea (khesari), fenugreek, cotton, jujube, grapes, dates, jackfruit, mango, mulberry, and black plum. Indian peasants had also domesticated cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, pigs and horses thousands of years ago. Some scientists claim agriculture in India was widespread in the Indian peninsula, some 30005000 years ago, well beyond the fertile plains of the north. For example, one study reports twelve sites in the southern Indian states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh providing clear evidence of agriculture of pulses (Vigna radiata and Macrotyloma uniflorum), millet-grasses (Brachiaria ramosa and Setaria verticillata), wheats (Triticum diococcum, Triticum

durum/aestivum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus), pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), finger millet (Eleusine coracana), cotton (Gossypium sp.), linseed (Linum sp.), as well as gathered fruits of Ziziphus and two Cucurbitaceae.[20][21] Some claim Indian agriculture began by 9000 BP as a result of early cultivation of plants, and domestication of crops and animals.[22]Settled life soon followed with implements and techniques being developed for agriculture.[23][24] Double monsoons led to two harvests being reaped in one year.[25] Indian products soon reached the world via existing trading networks and foreign crops were introduced to India.[25][26] Plants and animalsconsidered essential to their survival by the Indianscame to be worshiped and venerated.[22] The middle ages saw irrigation channels reach a new level of sophistication in India and Indian crops affecting the economies of other regions of the world under Islamic patronage.[27][28] Land and water management systems were developed with an aim of providing uniform growth.[29][30] Despite some stagnation during the later modern era the independent Republic of India was able to develop a comprehensive agricultural programme.[31][32] India and China are competing to establish the world record on rice yields. Yuan Longping of China National Hybrid Rice Research and Development Centre, China, set a world record for rice yield in 2010 at 19 tonnes per hectare in a demonstration plot. In 2011, this record was surpassed by an Indian farmer, Sumant Kumar, with 22.4 tonnes per hectare in Bihar, also in a demonstration plot. Both these farmers claim to have employed newly developed rice breeds and System of Rice Intensification (SRI), a recent innovation in rice farming. The claimed Chinese and Indian yields have yet to be demonstrated on 7 hectare farm lots and that these are reproducible over two consecutive years on the same farm.[57][58][59][60]

India is an agricultural country. The Indian economy is basically agrarian. In spite of economic development and industrialization, agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy. As Mahatma Gandhi said, "India lives in villages and agriculture is the soul of Indian economy". Nearly two-thirds of its population depends directly on agriculture for its livelihood. Agriculture is the main stay of India's economy. It contributes about 26 percent of the gross domestic product. Agriculture meets food requirements of the people and produces several raw materials for industries. From agricultural point of view, India is a unique country. It has vast expanse of level land, rich soils, wild climatic variations suited for various types of crops, ample sunshine and a long growing season. The net sown area in India today is about 143 million hectares. India has the highest percentage of land under cultivation in the world. In spite of the fact that large areas in India, after independence, have been brought under irrigation, only one-third of the cropped area is actually irrigated. The productivity of agriculture is very low. Farming depends mainly upon monsoon rain. Most of the production comprises food crops. About one-third of the land holdings are small, less than one hectare in size. Farmers own their

own small prices of land and grow crops primarily for consumption. Even storage facilities for crops are inadequate. Now use of pesticides and fertilizers has increased and large areas have been brought under high yielding variety of seeds. This led to green revolution in several parts of India. This has helped in increasing yields per hectare as well as total production of different crops. There are many reasons responsible for the low productivity of agriculture. About one-third of land holdings are very small less than one hectare in size. Due to small size of land holdings we cannot use modern way of cultivation. Even today the farmers are using very old methods, tools and implements for fanning. Farmers are not using artificial ways of cultivation. Inputs like-better quality of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides are also not used by most of the farmers. Exploitation of marginal farmers is also responsible. There is also low productivity because of increasing pressure on land and absence of bank credit. Agriculture is the backbone of our Indian economy. Agricultural development is a precondition of our national prosperity. It is the main source of earning livelihood of the people. Nearly two-thirds of its population depends directly on agriculture. Agriculture provides direct employment to 70 percent of working people in the country. It is the main stay of India's economy. Apart from those who are directly involved in the agrarian sector, a large number of the population is also engaged in agro-based activities. Agriculture meets the foods requirements of large population of India. It ensures food security for the country. Substantial increase in the production of food grain like-rice, wheat etc. and non-food grains like-tea, coffee, spices, fruits and vegetables, sugar, cotton etc. has made India selfsufficient. Agriculture also contributes to the national income of our country. It accounts for 26 percent of the gross domestic product. The growth of most of the industries depends on agriculture. It produces several materials for industries. It forms the basis of many industries of India like-cotton, textile, jute, sugar industries etc by providing cotton, sugarcane, oilseeds etc. People engaged in agriculture also buy the products of industries like-tractors, pesticides, fertilizers, pump-set etc. Agriculture contributes in foreign exchange of our country. India exports agricultural products like tea, coffee, sugar, tobacco, spices etc and earns foreign currency. Exports from the agricultural sector have helped India in earning valuable foreign exchange and thereby boosting economic development. From above mentioned facts it is very clear that in spite of industrial development still agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy. The Five-year Plans accorded priority to the agricultural sector. In the past 50 years the food grain production in the country increased substantially from 51 million tonnes in 1950-51 to 209 million tonnes in 1999-2000. Inspite of the constant rise of population, we have been

able to built a food stock of 44.7 million tonnes in 2001. This is because of the technological and institutional reforms in our country. The Indian government took several steps to improve the agricultural condition in the country. The government has encouraged consolidation of land holdings to promote use of modern farm machines. Land reforms were introduced. The government took lands of big land owners away and redistributed to landless labourers. The government abolished the Zamindari System. Modern methods of cultivation were introduced in the country. The government provided better infrastructure facilities such as irrigation, electricity and transportation. Agricultural equipments such as tractors, pump harvesters, fertilizers, pesticides were made available to farmers. Getting finance from banks was made easier for the farmers. The crop insurance was another step to protect the farmers against losses caused by crop failure on account of natural calamities like drought, flood cyclone etc. High-yielding varieties of seeds, fertilizers and irrigation gave birth to Green Revolution. All these led to tremendous increase in the production of crops. The country on an average, has enough in stock to meet the food requirements of its citizens. India has emerged as the largest producer of coconut, ginger, cashew nut, blackpeeper and as the second largest producers of fruits and vegetables. The productivity of the land has increased through the years, but has not reached international productivity levels. Indian agriculture has diversified into various sectors and contributes significantly to the nation's economy. But this situation is not likely to remain so easy in the years to come. The population of India is likely to be around 1300 million. This would require a huge amount of food grains along with non-food grains. India has to use its vast potential of agriculture in a systematic and planned manner. We have to develops some of the techniques which the developed countries have been using.

Weed
Weeds can compete with productive crops or pasture, or convert productive land into unusable scrub. Weeds are also often poisonous, distasteful, produce burrs, thorns or other damaging body parts or otherwise interfere with the use and management of desirable plants by contaminating harvests or excluding livestock. Weeds tend to thrive at the expense of the more refined edible or ornamental crops. They provide competition for space, nutrients, water and light, although how seriously they will affect a crop depends on a number of factors. Some crops have greater resistance than otherssmaller, slower growing seedlings are more likely to be overwhelmed than those that are larger and more vigorous. Onions are one of the crops most susceptible to competition, for they are slow to germinate and produce slender, upright stems. Quick growing, broad leafed weeds therefore have a distinct advantage, and if not removed, the crop is likely to be lost. Broad

beans however produce large seedlings, and will suffer far less profound effects of weed competition other than during periods of water shortage at the crucial time when the pods are filling out. Transplanted crops raised in sterile seed or potting compost will have a head start over germinating weed seeds.

Methods[edit]

Pesticide-free thermic weed control with a weed burner on a potato field inDithmarschen

In domestic gardens, methods of weed control include covering an area of ground with several layers of wet newspaper or one black plastic sheet for several weeks. In the case of using wet newspaper, the multiple layers prevent light from reaching all plants beneath, which kills them. Saturating the newspaper with water daily speeds the decomposition of the dead plants. Any weed seeds that start to sprout because of the water will also be deprived of sunlight, be killed, and decompose. After several weeks, all germinating weed seeds present in the ground should be dead. Then the newspaper can be removed and the ground can be planted. The decomposed plants will help fertilise the plants or seeds planted later

Thermal methods[edit]
There are several thermal methods known to control weed. Hot foam (foamstream) causes the cell walls to rupture, killing the plant. Weed burners heat up soil quickly and destroy superficial parts of the plants. Weed seeds are often heat resistant and even react with an increase of growth on dry heat. Since the 19th century soil steam sterilization is used as a farming technique to clean soil completely from weeds. Several research results confirm the high effectivness of humid heat against weeds and its seeds.[3]

Organic methods[edit]

Weed control, circa 30-40's

A mechanical weed control device: thediagonal weeder

Typically a combination of methods are used in organic situations.

Drip irrigation: Rubber hoses and other methods are used to bring water directly to the roots of the desired plants. This limits weed access to water. Manually pulling weeds: Labourers are used to pull weeds at various points in the growing process. Hot Foam: For example foamstream, the hot water infiltrates the cell walls and the high temperature causes the walls to rupture, the foam acts as a thermal blanket holding the boiling water in place. Boiling water: Pour boiling water to weed, they will become more green and then die in few hours. Best for weed in cracks or other hard to reach locations. Vinegar: Vinegar kills the visible part of the weed. They will wrinkle and die next day, although the root will still be in place to continue growing.

Mechanically tilling around plants: Tractors are used to carefully till weeds around the crop plants at various points in the growing process. Besides tilling, other mechanical weed control methods also exist Ploughing: Ploughing includes tilling of soil, intercultural ploughing and summer ploughing. Ploughing through tilling of soil uproots the weeds which causes them to die. In summer ploughing is done during deep summers. Summer ploughing also helps in killing pests. Crop rotation: Rotating crops with ones that kill weeds by choking them out, such ashemp,[1] Mucuna pruriens, and other crops, can be a very effective method of weed control. It is a way to avoid the use of herbicides, and to gain the benefits of crop rotation. Weed mat: A weed mat is an artificial mulch, fibrous cloth material, bark or newspaper laid on top of the soil preventing weeds from growing to the surface.[2]

"Stale seed bed" technique[edit]

One technique employed by growers is the stale seed bed, which involves cultivating the soil, then leaving it for a week or so. When the initial flush of weeds has germinated, the grower will lightly hoe off before the desired crop is planted. However, even a freshly cleared bed will be susceptible to airborne seed from elsewhere, as well as seed brought in by passing animals which can carry them on their fur, or from freshly imported manure. The organic solution to the problem of spreading annual weeds lies in regular, properly timed weeding, preferably just before flowering (fortuitously, this is also the time at which they will be of the most value in composting). This technique is also quite often used by farmers who let weeds germinate then return the soil before crop sowing.

Use of herbicides[edit]
The above described methods of weed control avoid using chemicals. They are often used by farmers. However, these methods may damage a fragile soil by restructuring it, hence are not always used. They are those preferred by the organic gardener or organic farmer. However weed control can also be achieved by the use of herbicides. Selective herbicides kill certain targets while leaving the desired crop relatively unharmed. Some of these act by interfering with the growth of the weed and are often based on plant hormones. Herbicides are generally classified as follows;

Contact herbicides destroy only that plant tissue in contact with the chemical spray. Generally, these are the fastest acting herbicides. They are ineffective on perennial plants that are able to re-grow from roots or tubers. Systemic herbicides are foliar-applied and are translocated through the plant and destroy a greater amount of the plant tissue. Modern herbicides such as glyphosate are designed to leave no harmful residue in the soil. Soil-borne herbicides are applied to the soil and are taken up by the roots of the target plant.

Pre-emergent herbicides are applied to the soil and prevent germination or early growth of weed seeds.

Harvesting..
Harvest is the process of gathering mature crops from the fields. Reaping is the cutting ofgrain or pulse for harvest, typically using a scythe, sickle, or reaper.[1] The harvest marks the end of the growing season, or the growing cycle for a particular crop, and social importance of this event makes it the focus of seasonal celebrations such as a harvest festival, found in many religions. On smaller farms with minimal mechanization, harvesting is the most labor-intensive activity of the growing season. On large, mechanized farms, harvesting utilizes the most expensive and sophisticated farm machinery, like the combine harvester. Harvesting in general usage includes an immediate post-harvest handling, all of the actions taken immediately after removing the cropcooling, sorting, cleaning, packingup to the point of further on-farm processing, or shipping to the wholesale or consumer market

Other uses[edit]

Harvesting has been done by hand for most of human history.

Harvest commonly refers to grain and produce, but also has other uses. In addition to fishand timber, the term harvest is also used in reference to harvesting grapes for wine. Within the context of irrigation, water harvesting refers to the collection and run-off of rainwater for agricultural or domestic uses. Instead of harvest, the term exploit is also used, as in exploiting fisheries or water resources. Energy harvesting is the process by which energy(such as solar power, thermal energy, wind energy, salinity gradients and kinetic energy) is captured and stored. Body harvesting, or cadaver harvesting, is the process of collecting and preparing cadavers for anatomical study. In a similar sense, organ harvesting is the removal of tissues or organs from a donor for purposes of transplanting.[citation needed] Harvesting or Domestic Harvesting in Canada refers to hunting, fishing and plant gathering by First Nations, Mtis and Inuit in discussions of aboriginal or treaty rights. For example, in the Gwich'in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement, "Harvesting means gathering, hunting, trapping or fishing..."[2] Similarly, in the Tlicho Land Claim and Self Government Agreement

"'Harvesting' means, in relation to wildlife, hunting, trapping or fishing and, in relation to plants or trees, gathering or cutting."[3]

Guidelines to proper harvesting:

Harvest at the right time with the right moisture content; Avoid delays in threshing after harvesting; Use proper machine settings when using a threshing machine; Clean the grains properly after threshing; and, Dry the grains immediately after threshing

What is harvesting?
Harvesting is the process of collecting the mature rice crop from the field. Paddy harvesting activity includes cutting, stacking, handling, threshing, cleaning, and hauling. It is important to apply good harvesting methods to be able to 1) maximize grain yield, and 2) minimize grain damage and quality deterioration. Harvesting can be done manually using sickles and knives, or mechanically with the use of threshers or combine harvesters. Regardless of the method, a number of guidelines should be followed to ensure that good grain quality is preserved during harvest operations and harvest losses are kept to minimum.