Face-lifting the Farming Sector
India, for years, had primarily been an agricultural economy. After Independence, the first major boost to agriculture came in the form of Green Revolution which led to the country achieving self-sufficiency in major food crops.
Gradually as the country moved forward by adapting industrialization, liberalization, information technology and services, the agricultural sector started shrinking. The sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP stood at 50% in the 1950s and came down to 15.4% in 2015-16.
While the production of food grains has increased, agricultural growth has largely been volatile in the past few decades. The key issues that have been adversely affecting the industry and agricultural productivity are decreasing area of agricultural land, irregular monsoon and the continued dependence on it, decrease in soil fertility, decreasing manpower in agriculture and low remunerative prices to farmers among others.
India has set an ambitious goal of doubling its farm income by 2022. To realise this goal, it will need more than just a strong will. It will need a change in the way current traditional practices are being implemented. The need is to reach out and educate the farmers about how they can improve farming practices. The modern ways of farming need to be customized to suit the Indian farming traditions so that the best of both the worlds can be reaped.
Framing practices that use less soil and water need to be prioritized and implemented on a wider scale. Hydroponic farming and Vertical farming methods can be harnessed to battle the problems of reduced soil fertility and the water crisis. These methods will also ensure that the available spaces and resources are better utilized. These methods also require less manpower once the initial set up is done. Awareness should be raised and proper training must be given to the farmers so that they can understand and implement the methods.
What better way to spread this awareness than to groom the young generation and pique its interest in agriculture. If India is to remain self-sufficient, fulfil its food-goals and even move to surplus food production, the younger generation must look towards agriculture in a modern light and as another occupational field that is challenging and gratifying.
In this issue of The Knowledge Review, we bring you The 10 Best Agriculture Institutes in India, 2020 that are preparing the next generation of agriculturists who can meet the goal of achieving sustainable food production with the limited natural resources.
On the Cover, we have Akal College of Agriculture, Eternal University, which was established with the motive to provide skill-based education in Agriculture and Food Technology to create an environmentally sustainable career and a secured future for students.
Further pages are dedicated to the Agricultural Engineering Department, Aditya Engineering College, that is committed to educate and train agricultural engineers to support and maintain the pace of agricultural development in the country; Dr. D. Y. Patil College Of Agricultural Engineering And Technology, Talsande, that wishes to transform students into professionally competent and quality conscious agricultural engineers; Shri Vaishnav Institute of Agriculture, that imparts theory and hands-on-experience to hone students’ skills to create higher levels of intellectual abilities in them; and Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, that works for the furtherance of the advancement of agricultural education.
We would also like to mention Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, MPKV Agricultural Research Station, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Agricultural University, Vivekananda College of Technology and Management, and YBN University.
While flipping the pages do take a glance at the articles penned by our in-house writers and fashion education experts. These articles will give an insight into the current trends of the industry.
Happy Reading!
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