INTRODUCTION

The science and art of cultivation on soil and the rearing

of livestock is called Agriculture. Agriculture was the key
development in the rise in sedentary human civilization,
where by farming of domesticated species created food
surpluses that enabled people to live in cities. The study of
agriculture is known as Agriculture science. The development
of agriculture enabled the human population to grow many
times larger than could be sustained by hunting and
gathering.
Agriculture inputs are defined as products permitted for
use in organic farming. These include feedstuffs, fertilisers
and permitted plant protection products as well as cleaning
agents and additives used in food production. The
assessment of their suitability for organic framing is
undertaken by the research institute of organic Agriculture in
Switzerland. Agricultural efficiency production depend
largely upon the inputs and investment in agriculture and the
methods of production used. Progressive agriculture will
demand, among other things, improvements in inputs and
methods. Irrigation, better seeds, better manures and
fertilisers, land reclamation and soil conversation,
plantprotection, use of mechanisationetc. these are various
aspects ofagricultural inputs which have to be considered
here.
FORMS OF AGRICULTURAL INPUTS-
In the agricultural inputs, there are some forms
discussed below. This forms are most important for the
agriculture, that to increase the agricultural productivity.
1. Irrigation-
Water is indispensable tom agricultural production. It is
available to agricultural either from rainfall or from artificial
irrigation. In areas where rainfall is plentiful and well-
distributed over the years, there is no problem of water. But
rainfall is very scanty in certain areas as well as uncertain.
This is so in Deccan and central India, Punjab and Rajasthan.
In these areas, artificial irrigation is absolutely essential, for
without it cultivation is almost impossible.

Sources of Irrigation in India-

Artificial irrigation may be three types. a) Well irrigation
b) Tank irrigation
c) Canal irrigation

a) Well Irrigation-
Wells are of two types- surface wells and tube wells.
Surface wells were the most ancient and the most important
method of irrigation till a few decades ago. There are about
2.5 million surface wells in the country. Tube wells go far
deeper than surface wells and can draw a much larger
volume of water and for a longer period of time.
b) Tank Irrigation-
Tanks and other catchments refers to the storage of
flood water flowing in rivers or directly of rain water and
have been used for irrigation. The irrigation tanks are of all
sizes, managing from large lakes to village ponds. Tank
irrigation has been the most common in deccan but most
tanks are old and silted.

c) Canal Irrigation-
Canal irrigation is at present the most important form of
irrigation. Canals are constructed and maintained by the
govts. They are very expensive to constructed but they help
to irrigate very large areas of land. There are three types of
canals, viz, perennial canals, inundation canals, and storage
work canals.

2. Fertilisers and Manures-

In any scheme for boosting agricultural output, the use
of chemical fertilisers has an important role. India’s soil
though varied and rich is deficient in nitrogen and phosphors
– two plant nutrients which together with organic manure
influence crop return. With population rising at a fast rate,
the use of larger and larger doses of chemical fertilisersis the
only way to argument our food production.
3. Improved seeds-
Indian farmers are aware of the importance of improved
seeds in cultivation, for good seeds make for a possible
increase of 10 to 20 percent in production. But they generally
use seeds of very indifferent quality either because the
special good quality seeds kept for sowing purposes are
consumed away during the off-season or because good seeds
deteriorate through bad storage. Agricultural Department,
and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research have done
much to evolve and popularise improved and disease-
resisting varieties of seeds suitable for different local
conditions.

4. Mechanisation of Agriculture-
The tools and implements used by the Indian farmers
are primitive , crude and antiquated, as compared to the
most up-to-date from machinery used by the farmers of the
west. As a result of progressive mechanisation of agriculture,
these countries have been able to experience an agricultural
revolution almost comparable to industrial revolution of 18th
and 19th centuries.

5.Plant Protection-
In India, crops are damaged heavily by insects, rodents
and other animal pests and on account of dieses, weeds, etc.
The farmers suffers heavily because of the deterioration of
food grains and other agricultural commodities during
storage though insects, mine, etc. It is estimated that plant
protection measures have benefited 58 million hectares in
1971-72 as compared to 17 million hectares in 1965-66.

PROBLEMS OF AGRICULTUREAL INPUTS-

There are various problems of agricultural inputs. These
problems are discussed below.
1. Small and Fragmented land holdings-
The seemingly abundance of net sown area of 141.2
million hectares and total cropped areas of 189.7
million hectares (1999-2000).

2. Seeds-
Seed is a critical and basic input for attaining
higher crop yields and sustained growth in agricultural
production.

3. Manures, Fertilizers and Biocides-

Indian soils have been used for growing crops
over thousands of years without caring much for
replenishing. This had led to depletion and exhaustion
of soils resulting in their low productivity.

4. Agricultural Marketing-
Agricultural marketing still continues to be in a bad
shape in rural India. In the absence of sound
marketing facilities, the farmers have to depend upon
 local traders and middlemen for the disposal of their
farm produce which is sold at throw-away price.

5. Inadequate storage facilities-

Storage facilities in the rural areas are either totally
absent or grossly inadequate. Under such conditions
the farmers are compelled to sell their produce
immediately after the harvest at the prevailing
market prices which are bound to be low.

6. Inadequate Transport-
One of the most handicaps with Indian agriculture
is the lack of cheap and efficient means of
transportation. Even at present there are lakhs of
villages which are not well connected with main roads
or with market centres.

SUGGESTIVE MEASURES OF AGRICULTURAL INPUTS-

There are some suggestive measures discussed below.

1. Transport Facilities-
To facilitate the farmers to produce new farm inputs
and enable them to sell their product in markets, villages
should be linked with mandis.
It would help to raise their income which in turn
stimulates the farmer’s interest to adopt better farm
technology with sufficient income.
 2.Irrigation Facilities-
Crop Productivity depends not only on the quality of
input but also on the irrigation facilities. Therefore, canals,
tube wells should be constructed to provide better irrigation
facilities for the security of crops.

3. Institutional Credit-
To save the farmers from the clutches of moneylenders,
adequate credit facilities should be made available at
reasonable cheap rates in rural areas.

4. Proper Marketing Facilities-

Marketing Infrastructure should be widened and
strengthened to help the farmers to sell their products at
better price.

5.Supply of Quality Inputs-

The farmer in the country should be supplied with
quality inputs at proper times and at controlled prices.

6.Consolidation of Holdings-
In various states consolidation of holdings is not
satisfactory. Therefore, efforts should be made towards
completing the consolidation work in the specific period of
time.
CONCLUSION-
It will be necessary to develop assessment activities and
tools, which are appropriate to the contexts in which the
qualifying learners are working.
Large agricultural input agencies can be encouraged to
work with such small scale yet promising players to give them
support in distribution and new product handling as they
have more qualified staff and can educate farmers about new
products adequately. Further, input subsidy should be
delinked from input sale and rather be given for creation of
market for more sustainable farm input products so that
marketing and selling pressures do not come in the way of
creation of markets for new products for sustainability.
 REFERENCES
Indian economy – S. k. Mishra
V. k. puri
Indian economy - P. k dhar
Indian economy - R. datt
K.P.M. sundaram
 CONTENTS
 INTRODUCTION
 FORMS OF AGRICULTURAL INPUTS

 PROBLEMS OF AGRICULTURAL INPUTS

 SUGGESTIVES MEASURES OF AGRICULTURAL

INPUTS

 CONCLUSION

 REFERENCES