GLIMPSE OF AGRICULTURE SECTOR IN PRESENT SCENARIO

Agriculture has been a way of life and continues to be the single most important livelihood of the masses.  Food-grains production rose from 52 million tonnes in 1951-52 to 244.78 million tonnes in 2010-11.During  the current Five Year plan, agriculture growth is estimated at 3.28 per cent against a target of 4 per cent. The Government Approach  to the Twelfth Five Year Plan emphasis's the need to “redouble efforts to ensure that 4.0 per cent average growth” is achieved  during the Plan.

Agriculture including allied activities, accounted for 14.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) at 2004-05 prices, in 2010-11 as compared to 14.7 per cent in 2009-10.I n   t e r m s   o f composition, out of the total share of 14.5 per cent that agriculture and allied sectors had in GDP in 2010-11, agriculture alone accounted for 12.3 per cent, followed by forestry and logging at 1.4 per cent.

The average annual growth in agriculture and allied sectors realized during the first four years of the Eleventh Plan Period, i.e. 2007-08 to 2010-11, is 3.5 per cent against the targeted growth rate of 4 per cent, sightly lower average growth than targeted in the Eleventh Plan period due  to severe drought experienced in most parts of the country during 2009-10 and drought/deficient rainfall in some states,namely Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern UP and West Bengal in 2010-11. Gross Capital Formation (GCF) in agriculture and allied sectors rose to 20.1 per cent in 2010-11 from 13.5 per cent in 2004-05 at 2004-05 prices. This is a positive trend.

For five consecutive years, from 2004-05 to 2008-09,   food-grains production  recorded an increasing trend. However, it declined to 218.11million tonnes in 2009-10 due to severe drought conditions in various parts of the country. Normal monsoon in the subsequent year, 2010-11, helped the country reach a significantly higher level of 244.78 million tonnes of food-grains production. As per the second Advance Estimates, production of food-grains during 2011-12 is estimated at an all time record level of 250.42 million tonnes which is a significant achievement mainly due to increase in the production of rice and wheat.

Sugarcane,The production of sugar in the 2011-12 sugar season is estimated at about 246.65 lakh tonnes against the estimated demand of about 220 lakh tonnes.The production of oilseeds during 2011-12 and net availability of edible oil from all domestic sources (primary) are estimated at 305.29 lakh tonnes and 72.69 lakh tonnes respectively.

India is the fourth largest producer of natural rubber (NR) with a share of 8.2 per cent in world production in 2010.The production of NR in 2011-12 is projected at 9.02 lakh tonnes, an increase of 4.6 per cent over 2010-11. India continues to be the second largest consumer of NR with 8.8 per cent share of world consumption in 2010. Consumption of NR in 2011-12 is projected at 9.77 lakh tonnes, an increase of 3.1 per cent over the previous year.

India is the sixth largest producer of coffee after Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia, and Ethiopia. With 2 per cent share in global area under coffee, India contributes about 4 per cent to world coffee production as well as international trade. Coffee is cultivated in an area about 4.0 lakh ha primarily in the southern states of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Presently consumption in the country is over 1 lakh tonnes and India produces about 3 lakh tonnes of coffee comprising both Arabica (32 per cent) and Robusta (68 per cent) coffee. The country’s coffee production reached a high of 3.02 lakh tonnes during 2011-12 and is expected to touch an all-time record production of 3.22 lakh tonnes during 2011-12, an increase of 6.7 per cent over 2010-11 production.

India is the largest producer and consumer of black tea in the world. Tea is grown in 16 states in India. Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala account for about 95 per cent of total tea production. Tea production in India during the year 2010-11 has been estimated at 0.97 million tonnes as against 0.99 million tonnes in 2009-10.