Agriculture
The greater part of Asia remains uncultivated, primarily because climatic and soil conditions are unfavourable.
Conversely, in the best growing areas an extraordinarily Intensive Agriculture is practiced, made possible by irrigating the alluvial soils of the great river deltas and valleys.
Principal crops cultivated are rice, sugarcane, and, in central Asia, sugar cane requires the most water. Legumes, root crops, and cereals other than rice can be grown even on land watered only by natural precipitation
Please refer map for Asia continent
Please refer map for India
Agriculture Technology
The traditional method of irrigation in Asia is by gravity water flow. The water from upstream storage reservoirs or diversion dams is carried through canals to field dis-tributaries.
In some systems the fields adjoin one another, and the water is able to flow from one field to the next; it may, however, take some time for the water to move across the fields back to the canal system.
The disadvantages of this system include water loss by evaporation and seepage and the possibility that the continuously flowing water will carry with it soil nutrients, fertilizers, and pesticides.
In Japan and Taiwan water is moved by small electric pumps, which operate continuously during the growing seasons
Dr. M Swaminathan on Green Evolution, speaks about the Bengal famine in 1942
What is Green Revolution
Continued expansion of farming areas.
Double cropping in existing farmland.
Using seeds with improved genetics.
Expanding irrigation facilities.
Plan protection activities through prudent use of fertilizers, pesticides and cropping applications.
Advantages of Green Revolution
The recorded grain yield output.
Per unit area yield increased.
Awareness to use HYV and various Agro Inputs.
World Bank Loan Repayment.
Generated plenty of Jobs.
India transformed itself from starving nation to an Exporter of food.
Green Revolution – The Miracle Of Human History
The term “Green Revolution” was first used in a March 8, 1968, speech by the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), William S. Gaud, who noted the spread of the new technologies:
It is important to remember that the development of India’s own seed industry, as well as India’s Green Revolution, were largely directed and supported by public investments and policy frameworks.
As Agriculture scientist, globally acclaimed Nobel Laurette Dr Norman Borlaug and father of Indian green revolution Prof Swaminathan many times said, “Success story of Indian green revolution is attributed to synergy of three pillars; strong political will, scientific community support and immense desire of farmers to adopt the technology”. Even then, the benefits of India’s agricultural transformation were not equitably distributed across the country or among socio-economic groups.
High yielding varieties alone would not help accelerate production, unless coupled with other essential inputs, particularly remunerative prices for the produce and assured marketing / distribution opportunities. It was the proven experience of PDS (Public distribution system) and FCI (Food corporation of India) which dealt with world’s largest procurement and distribution of grains in India.
Indian Agriculture has made rapid strides since Independence
From food shortages and import to self-sufficiency and exports.
From subsistence farming to intensive and technology led cultivation.
Today , India is the front ranking producer of many crops in the world.
Ushered in through the green, white, blue and yellow revolutions.
Please find below the Approx. Figure
Total Geographical Area – 328 million hectares
Net Area sown – 142 million hectares
Gross Cropped Area – 190.8 million hectares
| Crops Cultivated | Yield(In tonnes) |
|---|---|
| Rice | 96.43 million tonnes |
| Wheat | 78.40 million tonnes |
| Coarse Cereals | 40.73 million tonnes |
| Pulses | 15.12 million tonnes |
| Oil-seeds | 28.83 million tonnes |
| Sugarcane | 340.56 million tonnes |
Indian Agriculture – Facts & Figures
Contributes to 16.6 % of GDP in 2007.
Provides food to 1.2 Billion people.
Sustains 65% of the population : helps alleviate poverty.
Produces 51 major Crops.
Provides Raw Material to Industries.
Contributes to 1/6th of the export earnings.
One of the 12 Bio-diversity centers in the world with over 46,000 species of plants and 86,000 species of animals recorded.
Major Landmarks
India is Largest producer in the world of pulses , tea , and milk
& Second Largest producer of fruits, vegetables, wheat , rice, groundnut and sugarcane.
Seed Sector in India
A] Public : NSC, SSC, SAUs
B] Private: More than 450 players
The private seed industry is now undergoing a transition following the Indian Government’s focus on biotechnology research, as a means of increasing agricultural production and also driven by trends in the domestic and world Seed market.
fig. 1
fig. 2
On The Future Of Genomics by : Ashish Wele