Agricultural development refers to supporting farmers and crop producers by providing necessary resources, security, and advanced techniques. This includes pest control, crop diversity, and agricultural research. These efforts play a critical role in ensuring sustainable farming and food security.

Before independence, India’s agricultural sector faced major challenges such as inequity and lack of growth. Post-independence, policymakers introduced land reforms and adopted high-yielding variety (HYV) seeds, igniting a revolution in Indian agriculture.

Land Reforms in India

Land reforms focus on ensuring equitable access to land by redistributing land from wealthier owners to poorer farmers. It involves regulating land ownership, sale, leasing, and inheritance rights. In India, with a large population below the poverty line, land reforms became an essential part of addressing economic disparity in rural areas.

Over time, land reforms have evolved to support the strategic role of agriculture in economic development, transforming agricultural structures such as farm organization, cultivation patterns, tenancy systems, and rural credit. This also includes adopting modern technologies and advanced farming methods.

Green Revolution in India

At the time of independence, 75% of India’s population depended on agriculture, but production levels were low due to outdated practices. The introduction of the Green Revolution in the 1960s significantly boosted agricultural production, particularly for wheat and rice, through the use of high-yielding variety (HYV) seeds.

This revolution required adequate irrigation, manure, pesticides, and financial support for farmers, and it initially flourished in regions like Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. By the mid-1970s, the Green Revolution spread to other states, making India self-sufficient in food grain production.

Market Surplus and Agricultural Economy

While increasing production is important, it is also essential that farmers sell a large portion of their produce in the market. This is referred to as marketed surplus—the share of the agricultural product that enters the market. When farmers sell their surplus, it contributes to the national economy, unlike when it is consumed locally.