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AGRICULTURE
Agriculture provides significant
support for economic growth and social transformation
of the country. As one of the world’s largest
agrarian economies, the agriculture sector (including
allied activities) in India accounted for 14.2 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), at constant 2004-05 prices during 2010-11 as per Central Statistics Office (CSO) of India.In 2009-10,the GDP for agriculture and allied sectors accounted for 14.6 per cent of the GDP compared to 15.7 per cent in 2008-09.
The agriculture sector accounts for about 58 per cent of employment in the country (as per 2001 census). This sector is a supplier of food, fodder, and raw materials for a vast segment of industry. Hence the growth of Indian agriculture can be considered a necessary condition for ‘inclusive growth'. More recently, the rural sector (including agriculture) is being seen as a potential source of domestic demand,a recognition that is even shaping the marketing strategies of entrepreneurs wishing to widen the demand for goods and services. In terms of composition, out of a total share of 14.6 per cent of the GDP in 2009-10 for agriculture and allied sectors, agriculture alone accounted for 12.3 per cent followed by forestry and logging at 1.5 per cent and fisheries at 0.8 per cent.
In 2009-10, despite experiencing a poor monsoon, the growth marginally recovered to 0.4 per cent primarily due to a good rabi crop. Several advance measures taken by the government also had the desired effect of checking the impact of the drought situation on the rabi crop. Things are looking bright in the current year with a relatively good monsoon and the agriculture-sector is expected to grow at 5.4 per cent as per the 2010-11 advance estimates. The agriculture sector growth in the first four years of the Five Year Plan (2007-2012) is estimated at 2.87 per cent. In order to achieve the Plan target of average 4 per cent per year, the agriculture sector needs to grow at 8.5 per cent during 2011-12.
The rates
of growth and share of agriculture and allied
activities in the GDP of the country are given
below: Agriculture
sector: Key indicators
Figures in Percentage (%) |
| |
Item
|
2008-09 |
2009-10 |
2010-11 (AE)* |
| 1 |
GDP—Share and Growth (at 2004-05 prices) |
|
|
|
| Growth in GDP in agriculture & allied sectors |
-0.1 |
0.4 |
5.4 |
| Share in GDP-Agriculture and allied sectors |
15.7 |
14.6 |
14.2 |
Agriculture |
13.3 |
12.3 |
|
| 2 |
Forestry and logging |
1.6 |
1.5 |
|
| Fishing |
0.8 |
0.8 |
|
Share in Total Gross Capital Formation in the Country (at 2004-05 prices)
Share of Agriculture & Allied Sectors in total Gross Capital Formation |
8.3 |
7.7 |
|
Agriculture |
7.7 |
7.1 |
|
| 3 |
Forestry and logging |
0.07 |
0.06 |
|
| Fisheries |
0.56 |
0.54 |
|
Agricultural Imports & Exports (at current prices)
Agricultural imports to national imports |
2.71 |
4.38 |
|
| Agricultural exports to national exports |
10.22 |
10.59 |
|
| 4 |
Employment in the agriculture sector as share of total workers |
58.2 |
|
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*AE=Advance Estimates
Source : Central
Statistical Organization (CSO) and Department
of Agriculture and Cooperation.
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