AGRICULTURE vs.

INDUSTRY

Which is more important-agriculture or industry?

There is no doubt that without agriculture, country cannot exist and without industry, country
cannot develop. Agriculture and industry are like two wheels of a bicycle; one cannot survive
without other. So it’s necessary for a country to have both- agriculture as well as industry.
Like two faces of a coin, agriculture and industries, both are very much important.

What is the difference between our ancestors and us? Our ancestors were fully dependent on
agriculture and met their needs from it. Those days, they had very less scope of comfort. This
was because of lack of industries. Although there were few small cottage industries, but
however they cannot be classified as industries. This is the main difference between our
ancestors and us. Today we can communicate with anybody, wherever he may be by a push
of a little button. Every type of comfort is present before us. This is all because of industries.
But, one can also not deny the fact that agriculture is equally important.
After many ups and downs and clashes in Singur, still, they are in the doubt that which is
more important. Tata motors’ interest in constructing small car factory on agricultural land
angered its opposition and debate continued for months. Industries should be promoted but
not by compromising with agriculture. Policies should be made in order to promote both,
industries as well as agriculture.

In India, 46 percent land is under cultivation, whereas less than 17 percent is industrial land.
This gap between agriculture and industries may seem very high, but more than 70 percent
Indian earn their livelihood on agriculture. To feed population of a billion, this percentage
may even seem less. So what should be done in order to promote both?

An industry without compromising agriculture and vice-versa is the main policy to maintain
balance between them. There are several thousands of acres of barren land present in India.
These land are either not suitable for agriculture or due to lack of resources, agriculture is not
possible. Such areas can be found in western region of the country, which includes states like
Gujarat and Rajasthan. Regions of black soil such as Deccan pleatue and central India are less
fertile than river plains and can be used for industries. Areas, which have very less food
production, can also be utilized for industries.
To meet the ever-growing need of the people of the country, production must be increased.
To increase the production, modern technologies should be used, which can produce good
quality goods and at faster rate. During industrial revolution in 17th century, production of
goods increased due to use of modern and scientific technologies. Industrial revolution
although started in European countries, but its effect was felt all over the world, especially on
the economy.

While, food production must also be increased by using scientific method of agriculture.
Genetically modified seeds, which are resistant to pest and can have high productivity, can
increase food production. Modern methods of irrigation can also benefit farmers.
Another policy to the maintain balance between agriculture and industry is removal of
politics. There is a very common proverb,
“Where there is life, there is politics, and
Where there is politics, there is corruption.
Political groups try to pull the trigger, which commonly lead to conflict between agriculture
and industries. They commonly bring such issues into political criteria and use such issues to
win support of the people.

Agriculture is the backbone of industry. But without industry means tea without milk. For a
complete comfort, industry as well as agriculture should develop simultaneously. It is not the
issue of Industry vs. Agriculture; it is the issue of Industry and Agriculture.