Agriculture forms the backbone of Indian economy. The economic development in India is largely dependent on the development of Agriculture, as about 65 per cent of its population is engaged in it. About 87 per cent of the rural population of India is directly dependent upon agriculture and around 40 per cent of its national income is generated in this sector.
Agriculture is the source of livelihood for two-thirds of the population. A substantial section of the agricultural community which has either no land or very little land derives livelihood from wage employment. The number of agricultural proletariats has increased tremendously during this century.
According to the 1981 Census, the agricultural population had bloated to 384 million from 163 million in 1901. The area of cultivated land per cultivator fell sharply from 0.43 hectare in 1901 to 0.23 hectare in 1981. Lacking land and other assets worth the name,....
