Abstract

Agriculture occupies a place of pivotal importance in India's economy, providing livelihood to about 70 per cent of country's population and contri- buting about 50 per cent of the National income. A stagnant agriculture is the main feature of a traditional society. In such a society one' finds it difficult to apply the scientific innovations. Modernisation of the economy and accelerated economic growth are possible only if this stagnation is broken for good. Agricultural surpluses are essential for industrial growth. A look out for a system which combines the three factors namely, creation of agricul- tural surplus wherever possible; but also of industrial surpluses wherever conceivable in order to modernise agriculture and finally, a continuum of democratic economic institutions which make for this interflow between agriculture and industry. India's economic planning is dedicated to the task of devising this mechanism. The success of our efforts for economic development of the country will largely depend upon the order of development achieved in agriculture. The yields are miserably low as compared to the more advanced countries of the world. The result is that even with the bulk of population engaged in agriculture, enough quantities of foodgrains and raw materials are not being produced. Our Five Year Plans accorded a pride of place to programmes of agricultural development. Considerable progress has been achieved in increasing the production and laying the foundations of a progressive agricultural industry. Our experts view that with the gigantic effort in the field of agriculture in the Fourth Plan outlined, we can hope to increase agricultural output at least at the rate of five per cent per annum. The higher targets present a challenge which has, nevertheless, to be faced and there is no other alternative.

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