M2022HRM024

Q. Write a reflective note on the nature and causes of current agricultural

problems in India and its effect on livelihoods and job creation in rural areas.

Agriculture in India has always been marred by sins of omission and commission.

Agriculture has long been one of India's most significant industries. Even the First Five Year
Plan's subject, "Development of Agriculture," was intended to address many issues brought on
by the country's division and the Second World War. The goal of this strategy was to rebuild the
nation after independence. But what about rebuilding the shattered lives of these farmers who
built the nation?

The importance of this sector in India's economic and social fabric goes far beyond this metric,
even though agriculture's part of the country's economy has gradually decreased to less than 15%
as a result of the strong growth rates of the industrial and services sectors.

India is a major player in agriculture worldwide. It contains the largest cattle herd (buffaloes),
largest area committed to wheat, rice, and cotton, and is the largest producer of milk, pulses, and 
spices in the world. It is the second-largest producer of fruit, vegetables, tea, cotton, sugarcane, 
wheat, rice, cotton, and sugar.
Even after establishing itself as a key global participant in the field of agriculture, the farmers
and agriculture are suffering.
Challenges in Agriculture and Its Repurcussions on Employement.

Though agriculture’s share in the GDP is declining, but it still employs as much as 41.49% of
working population of India (ILO Report 2020). Following are the problems caused by declining
state of agriculture in job creation.

1. Not Enough Agricultural Land

There is little to no place for any agricultural area due to the constant industrial growth and the e
ver-increasing urbanization. There is no space
left for farming as a result of deforestation and the growth of concrete jungles. 
Since the existing land needs a few years to breathe, it cannot be exploited continually year after 
year.

A sizable portion of the farming community is unemployed as a result of the lack of new farmlan
ds and the sale of the existing ones. 

They must accept employment as day laborers in factories built on such acquired land.

2. Growing Marginalization of Agricultural Workers

Farmers are progressively leaving agriculture due to diminishing profits from agricultural land,
lower land holdings, rising debt, and forced acquisitions. As a result, the farm workers who tend
to them are laid off.

Additionally, the nature of work has changed to be seasonal, as has the status of agricultural
laborers' employment, as a result of the declining returns from agriculture.

3. Limited Resources

Scarcity of resources is yet another issue in agriculture. Lack of funding makes it much harder to
work on an agricultural project because raw materials, water, and land for farming are all in short
supply. After harvesting, crop storage options are similarly limited. Additionally, there is a lack
of funding for the equipment and machines required for farming.

The future of agriculture in India is further jeopardized by the youth's increasing reliance on
alternative career opportunities.

4. Using Artificial Replacements

With the introduction of numerous commercially available seeds and farming tools, agriculture is
becoming increasingly industrialized. India's agriculture is very labor-intensive, hence
widespread adoption of technology will rob many people of their means of subsistence.
 5. Lack of Financial Support

Youth are increasingly turning their backs on agriculture due to lack of financial assistance.

India's agriculture has historically been heavily reliant on the monsoon. The harvest is ruined by
lack of rain. The farmer takes out the debt in the anticipation of a stronger crop the next year,
only to be let down once more. Then, in the renewed optimism that the harvest won't desert him
this time, he obtains a second loan to enable him to pay back the first one. Eventually, farmers
commit suicide as a result of this never-ending cycle of poverty and despair because they are
unable to pay off their loan.

THE WAY FORWARD

For India to achieve sustainable agricultural growth, urgent adjustments must be made to the
current farming techniques. Insufficient agricultural revenues must be addressed. Farmers
should be given opportunities to pursue dairying and animal husbandry. Increased investments
are required to increase agricultural production, and rules governing animal husbandry must
encourage dairying, which gives farmers a source of income when their crops don't succeed.
Additionally, we must increase corporate and contract farming by facilitating the simple leasing
of dispersed landholdings by farmers. In addition to lease fees, they ought to be allowed to
receive a portion of the profits from increased productivity.

When something is sold for more than what the farmer sells it for, the farmer receives a very low
price. We require the Amul model in this situation for all agricultural products so that farmers
themselves as well as retailers and companies can benefit from the value created. Finally,
farmers require financial products that are suited to their requirements. This may take the shape
of effective crop insurance or additional job/business prospects.