Question
Discuss three important characteristics of Indian agriculture.
Answer
Indian agriculture is a complex system that is shaped by various factors, but three important characteristics of Indian agriculture are:
- Subsistence agriculture: A significant proportion of Indian agriculture is subsistence-based, meaning it is focused on producing crops for personal or family consumption. In fact, around 60% of the country’s total cultivated area is used for subsistence farming. This type of agriculture is often practiced by small farmers who use traditional techniques and limited resources to cultivate crops.
- Pressure of population: With a population of over 1.3 billion people, India has a high population density, which puts pressure on the agricultural sector to produce more food. In order to meet the growing demand for food, farmers often use intensive farming practices, such as multiple cropping and high-yield crop varieties. This pressure also puts a strain on natural resources like land, water, and soil, which are essential for agricultural production.
- Predominance of animal force: Despite advances in mechanization, animal force is still widely used in Indian agriculture, particularly in rural areas. Bullocks are often used for ploughing and tilling the land, while cows are used for milk production and manure. The use of animal force not only helps in reducing the dependence on fossil fuels but also plays an important role in generating additional income for rural households.
