AgricultureAgriculture is the production of food and goods is the production of food and goods through farming. Agriculture was the key through farming. Agriculture was the key development that led to the rise of development that led to the rise of humanhuman civilizationcivilization, , with the with the husbandryhusbandry of of domesticateddomesticated animalsanimals and and plants (i.e. plants (i.e. cropscrops) creating food ) creating food surplusessurpluses that enabled that enabled the development of more the development of more densely populateddensely populated and and stratifiedstratified societies. The study of agriculture is known societies. The study of agriculture is known as as agricultural scienceagricultural science. Agriculture is also observed in . Agriculture is also observed in certain species of certain species of antant and and termitetermite..

Agriculture encompasses a wide variety of specialties Agriculture encompasses a wide variety of specialties and techniques, including ways to expand the lands and techniques, including ways to expand the lands suitable for plant raising, by digging water-channels suitable for plant raising, by digging water-channels and other forms of irrigation. and other forms of irrigation. CultivationCultivation of crops on of crops on arable landarable land and the and the pastoralpastoral herdingherding of of livestocklivestock on on rangelandrangeland remain at the foundation of agriculture. In remain at the foundation of agriculture. In the past century there has been increasing concern to the past century there has been increasing concern to identify and quantify various forms of agriculture. In identify and quantify various forms of agriculture. In the developed world the range usually extends the developed world the range usually extends between between sustainable agriculturesustainable agriculture (e.g. (e.g. permaculturepermaculture or or organic agricultureorganic agriculture) and ) and intensive farmingintensive farming (e.g. (e.g. industrial agricultureindustrial agriculture). ).

Modern Modern agronomyagronomy, , plant breedingplant breeding, , pesticidespesticides and and fertilizersfertilizers, and technological improvements have , and technological improvements have sharply increased yields from cultivation, and at the sharply increased yields from cultivation, and at the same time have caused widespread ecological same time have caused widespread ecological damage and negative human health effects.damage and negative human health effects.SelectiveSelective breeding breeding and modern practices in animal husbandry and modern practices in animal husbandry such as such as intensive pig farmingintensive pig farming (and similar practices (and similar practices applied to the applied to the chickenchicken) have similarly increased the ) have similarly increased the output of output of meatmeat, but have raised concerns about , but have raised concerns about animal crueltyanimal cruelty and the health effects of the and the health effects of the antibioticsantibiotics, , growth hormonesgrowth hormones, and other chemicals commonly , and other chemicals commonly used in industrial meat production. used in industrial meat production.

The major agricultural products can be broadly The major agricultural products can be broadly grouped into grouped into foodsfoods, , fibersfibers, , fuelsfuels, and , and raw materialsraw materials. . In the 2000s, plants have been used to grow bibfuls, In the 2000s, plants have been used to grow bibfuls, biopharmaceuticalsbiopharmaceuticals, , bioplasticsbioplastics, and pharmaceuticals. , and pharmaceuticals. Specific foods include Specific foods include cerealscereals, , vegetablesvegetables, , fruitsfruits, and , and meatmeat. . FibersFibers include include cottoncotton, , woolwool, , hemphemp, , silksilk and and flaxflax. . Raw materialsRaw materials include lumber and bamboo. Other include lumber and bamboo. Other useful materials are produced by plants, such as useful materials are produced by plants, such as resinsresins. Befouls include . Befouls include methanemethane from from biomassbiomass, , ethanolethanol, and biddies. , and biddies. Cut flowersCut flowers, , nursery plantsnursery plants, , tropical fish and birds for the pet trade are some of tropical fish and birds for the pet trade are some of the ornamental products. the ornamental products.

In 2007, about one third of the world's In 2007, about one third of the world's workers were employed in agriculture. workers were employed in agriculture. The The servicesservices sector has overtaken sector has overtaken agriculture as the agriculture as the economic sectoreconomic sector employing the most people worldwide. employing the most people worldwide. Despite the size of its workforce, Despite the size of its workforce, agricultural production accounts for less agricultural production accounts for less than five percent of the than five percent of the gross world productgross world product (an aggregate of all (an aggregate of all gross domestic productsgross domestic products). ).

Agriculture has played a key role in the development Agriculture has played a key role in the development of human of human civilizationcivilization. Until the . Until the Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution, , the vast majority of the human population labored in the vast majority of the human population labored in agriculture. Development of agricultural techniques agriculture. Development of agricultural techniques has steadily increased agricultural productivity, and has steadily increased agricultural productivity, and the widespread diffusion of these techniques during a the widespread diffusion of these techniques during a time period is often called an time period is often called an agricultural revolutionagricultural revolution. . A remarkable shift in agricultural practices has A remarkable shift in agricultural practices has occurred over the past century in response to new occurred over the past century in response to new technologies. In particular, the technologies. In particular, the Haber-BoschHaber-Bosch method method for synthesizing for synthesizing ammonium nitrateammonium nitrate made the made the traditional practice of recycling traditional practice of recycling nutrientsnutrients with with crop rotationcrop rotation and animal and animal manuremanure less necessary. less necessary.

Since its development roughly 10,000 years ago,Since its development roughly 10,000 years ago,[24][24] agriculture has expanded vastly in geographical coverage and agriculture has expanded vastly in geographical coverage and yields. Throughout this expansion, new technologies and new yields. Throughout this expansion, new technologies and new crops were integrated. Even then crops were modified through crops were integrated. Even then crops were modified through cross-breeding for better yields. Agricultural practices such as cross-breeding for better yields. Agricultural practices such as irrigationirrigation, , crop rotationcrop rotation, , fertilizersfertilizers, and , and pesticidespesticides were were developed long ago, but have made great strides in the past developed long ago, but have made great strides in the past century. The century. The history of agriculturehistory of agriculture has played a major role in has played a major role in human historyhuman history, as agricultural progress has been a crucial , as agricultural progress has been a crucial factor in worldwide factor in worldwide socio-economic changesocio-economic change. . WealthWealth--concentration and concentration and militaristicmilitaristic specializations rarely seen in specializations rarely seen in hunter-gathererhunter-gatherer cultures are commonplace in societies which cultures are commonplace in societies which practice agriculture. practice agriculture.

So, too, are arts such as epic literature and So, too, are arts such as epic literature and monumental architecture, as well as codified monumental architecture, as well as codified legal systems. When farmers became capable legal systems. When farmers became capable of producing food beyond the needs of their of producing food beyond the needs of their own families, others in their society were freed own families, others in their society were freed to devote themselves to projects other than to devote themselves to projects other than food acquisition. Historians and food acquisition. Historians and anthropologists have long argued that the anthropologists have long argued that the development of agriculture made civilization development of agriculture made civilization possible. possible.

Since the 1940s, agricultural productivity has Since the 1940s, agricultural productivity has increased dramatically, due largely to the increased increased dramatically, due largely to the increased use of energy-intensive use of energy-intensive mechanizationmechanization, , fertilizersfertilizers and and pesticidespesticides. The vast majority of this energy input . The vast majority of this energy input comes from fossil fuel sources. Between 1950 and comes from fossil fuel sources. Between 1950 and 1984, the 1984, the Green RevolutionGreen Revolution transformed agriculture transformed agriculture around the globe, with world grain production around the globe, with world grain production increasing by 250%increasing by 250%[104][104][105][105] as as world populationworld population doubled. Modern agriculture's heavy reliance on doubled. Modern agriculture's heavy reliance on petrochemicals and mechanization has raised petrochemicals and mechanization has raised concerns that oil shortages could increase costs and concerns that oil shortages could increase costs and reduce agricultural output, causing food shortages. reduce agricultural output, causing food shortages.

Agriculture in Agriculture in IndiaIndia has a has a long historylong history dating back to dating back to ten thousand years. Today, India ten thousand years. Today, India ranks secondranks second worldwide in farm output. worldwide in farm output. AgricultureAgriculture and allied and allied sectors like sectors like forestryforestry and and logginglogging accounted for 16.6% accounted for 16.6% of the GDP in 2007, employed 52% of the total of the GDP in 2007, employed 52% of the total workforce and despite a steady decline of its share in workforce and despite a steady decline of its share in the GDP, is still the largest economic amenthe GDP, is still the largest economic amen

and plays a significant role in the overall socio-and plays a significant role in the overall socio-economic development of India. India is the largest economic development of India. India is the largest producer in the world of producer in the world of milkmilk, , cashew nutscashew nuts, , coconutscoconuts, , teatea, , gingerginger, , turmericturmeric and and black pepperblack pepper..

Indian agriculture began by 9000 BCE as a result of early Indian agriculture began by 9000 BCE as a result of early cultivation of plants, and domestication of crops and animals. cultivation of plants, and domestication of crops and animals. Settled life soon followed with implements and techniques Settled life soon followed with implements and techniques being developed for agriculture. Double being developed for agriculture. Double monsoonsmonsoons led to two led to two harvests being reaped in one year. Indian products soon harvests being reaped in one year. Indian products soon reached the world via existing trading networks and foreign reached the world via existing trading networks and foreign crops were introduced to India. Plants and animals—crops were introduced to India. Plants and animals—considered essential to their survival by the Indians—came to considered essential to their survival by the Indians—came to be worshiped and venerated. The be worshiped and venerated. The middle agesmiddle ages saw irrigation saw irrigation channels reach a new level of sophistication in India and channels reach a new level of sophistication in India and Indian crops affecting the economies of other regions of the Indian crops affecting the economies of other regions of the world under world under IslamicIslamic patronage. patronage.

Slow agricultural growth is a Slow agricultural growth is a concern for policymakers as some concern for policymakers as some two-thirds of India’s people depend two-thirds of India’s people depend on rural employment for a living. on rural employment for a living. Current agricultural practices are Current agricultural practices are neither economically nor neither economically nor environmentally sustainable and environmentally sustainable and India's yields for many agricultural India's yields for many agricultural commodities are low.commodities are low.

Agriculture in India is the means of Agriculture in India is the means of livelihood of almost two thirds of the work livelihood of almost two thirds of the work force in the country. It has always force in the country. It has always been INDIA'S most important economic been INDIA'S most important economic sector. The 1970s saw a huge increase in sector. The 1970s saw a huge increase in India's wheat production that heralded the India's wheat production that heralded the Green Revolution in the country. The Green Revolution in the country. The increase in post -independence agricultural increase in post -independence agricultural production has been brought about by production has been brought about by bringing additional area under cultivation, bringing additional area under cultivation, extension of irrigation facilities, use of extension of irrigation facilities, use of better seeds.better seeds.

Dependence on India agricultural imports in the early 1960s Dependence on India agricultural imports in the early 1960s convinced planners that India's growing population, as well as convinced planners that India's growing population, as well as concerns about national independence, security, and political concerns about national independence, security, and political stability, required self-sufficiency in food production. This stability, required self-sufficiency in food production. This perception led to a program of agricultural improvement called the perception led to a program of agricultural improvement called the Green Revolution, to a public distribution system, and to price Green Revolution, to a public distribution system, and to price supports for farmers. The growth in food-grain production is a result supports for farmers. The growth in food-grain production is a result of concentrated efforts to increase all the Green Revolution inputs of concentrated efforts to increase all the Green Revolution inputs needed for higher yields: better seed, more fertilizer, improved needed for higher yields: better seed, more fertilizer, improved irrigation, and education of farmers. Although increased irrigation irrigation, and education of farmers. Although increased irrigation has helped to lessen year-to-year fluctuations in farm production has helped to lessen year-to-year fluctuations in farm production resulting from the vagaries of the monsoons, it has not eliminated resulting from the vagaries of the monsoons, it has not eliminated those fluctuations. those fluctuations.

Non traditional crops of India, such as summer mung Non traditional crops of India, such as summer mung (a variety of lentil, part of the pulse family), (a variety of lentil, part of the pulse family), soybeans, peanuts, and sunflowers, were gradually soybeans, peanuts, and sunflowers, were gradually gaining importance. Steps have been taken to ensure gaining importance. Steps have been taken to ensure an increase in the supply of non-chemical fertilizers an increase in the supply of non-chemical fertilizers at reasonable prices. There are 53 fertilizer quality at reasonable prices. There are 53 fertilizer quality control laboratories in the country. Realizing the control laboratories in the country. Realizing the importance of Indian agricultural production for importance of Indian agricultural production for economic development, the central Government of economic development, the central Government of India has played an active role in all aspects of India has played an active role in all aspects of agricultural development. Planning is centralized, and agricultural development. Planning is centralized, and plan priorities, policies, and resource allocations are plan priorities, policies, and resource allocations are decided at the central level. decided at the central level.