Empowerment of Indian Farmers and Marketing System
Abstract
Due to structural changes in the agriculture sector, use of technology and government efforts, there have been major changes in the Indian agricultural system. Our country's 151.9 million hectares of agricultural area contributes more than 30% of GDP. The country with the second largest population in the world is not only self-sufficient in food grains but also exports agricultural produce to more than 50 countries of the world and it is among the 15 leading agricultural products exporting different countries in the world.
According to the 2011 census, 66% of India's population is directly engaged in agricultural activities. India is the second important country in the world in food grain production .While India is the world's leading country in the production of Millets as well as jute banana, mango, papaya and lemon. Due to the changing patterns of development and the influence of industrial and technological progress, the attraction of people towards secondary and tertiary economic sectors has increased at present. Due to which the agriculture sector has been neglected. But at a time of various periods of global economic slowdown, this primary economic sector (agriculture and forestry) of the country has contributed significantly in securing our economy. During the covid-19 pandemic, when the world's major economies suffered a historic decline, our primary economic sector contributed 17.8% to the country's GDP. at a growth rate of 3.4%.