Enhancing Sustainable Development of Diverse Agriculture in India

Agriculture in India occupies an important place as it contributes nearly 25 per cent of GDP and two-thirds of the population depend upon it. Agricultural growth in the past has been sufficient to move from severe food crisis to aggregate food surplus today. The rainfed regions are diverse in terms of resource base, varying from resource rich regions harnessing substantial production to resource poor regions with restricted potential. These resource poor regions are mostly dominated by secondary crops. Barring maize and potato, secondary crops are loosing ground against the finer cereals, cash and commercial crops. Therefore, there is an urgent need to provide a leverage to these crops by providing support in terms of technological advancement and policy support vis-à-vis other crops. The present study is an attempt to provide some much needed succor to secondary crops, thereby supporting millions of livelihoods inhabiting the rainfed marginal environments of the country.