Modernisation of agriculture and economic development: the Indian experience
Abstract
The world has witnessed spectacular increases
in agricultural output during the
twentieth century, particularly in its latter
half. This achievement is mainly ascribed to
the improved agricultural practices leading
to higher productivity of land and labour.
The contribution of extensive cultivation
has not been significant of late. Bringing
more land area under agriculture is becoming
more and more difficult in most countries.
Since prosperous agriculture is considered
to be the most crucial base for
economic development particularly in the
less developed countries (LDCs), the only
viable option for them is to continue to
enhance the productivity of land and labour
in agriculture. Increased productivity in
agriculture has been achieved in several
parts of the world mainly by modernizing
agriculture. Modernization consists largely
of using improved seeds, modern farm
machinery such as tractors, harvesters, threshers,
etc., chemical fertilizers and pesticides
in an optimal combination with water. The
present study proposes to examine the role
of modernization of agriculture in the overall
economic development of the LDCs. It
addresses itself to the following specific
questions:
(a) What is the role of agriculture in
the economic growth of LDCs?
(b) What is the impact of moderniza
tion of agriculture on the produc
tivity growth?
(c) What role can the governments in
LDCs play to promote moderniza
tion of agriculture?
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