Source: The post on significance of factors of Technology for agriculture has been created on the article “Producing more from less: How Indian agriculture has grown with limited ‘factors of production’” published in “Indian Express” on 28th November 2023.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS paper3- Economic development- agriculture
News: This article discusses how technology has transformed agriculture in India. It mentions four key factors of technology: genetics, crop nutrition, crop protection, and agronomic interventions. These advancements have led to higher agricultural productivity, reducing the reliance on factors like land and labor. The article highlights the significant role of technology in India’s agricultural growth.
What are the Traditional Factors of Agricultural Production?
Agriculture originally depended on four key factors: land, water, labor, and energy.
Land: Initially, farming’s growth relied heavily on the extent of land available. For instance, in India, agricultural growth of 2.8% per year from 1950-51 to 1961-62 was largely due to an increase in cultivated land, from 118.75 lakh to 135.40 lakh hectares. (as per NITI Aayog paper)
Water: Water’s availability, crucial for land quality, varied across regions. The fertility of agricultural land was directly influenced by soil fertility and water availability.
Labor: Traditional farming depended significantly on human labor. More farmhands meant more production.
Energy: Before modern machinery, energy in farms primarily came from bullocks, used for plowing fields and other tasks, demonstrating the reliance on animal power in traditional agriculture.
How do the factors of technology transform Agriculture?
Modern agriculture integrates four technological factors: genetics, crop nutrition, crop protection, and agronomic interventions.
Genetics: The development of new, high-yielding seed varieties was crucial. These seeds, bred by scientists such as Henry Beachell, Gurdev Singh Khush, and others. They incorporated dwarfing genes that enabled the plants to support heavy, fertilizer-fed grains without falling over. This genetic innovation was fundamental in transforming agricultural productivity.
Crop Nutrition: The transition to chemical fertilizers marked a significant change. For example, synthetic fertilizers like Urea (46% nitrogen) and di-ammonium phosphate (18% nitrogen, 46% phosphorus) provided nutrients more efficiently than traditional farmyard manure.
Crop Protection: Advances in crop protection chemicals ensured that gains from improved genetics and nutrition were fully realized. These products protected crops from pests, diseases, and weeds, contributing to higher yields.
Agronomic Interventions: Mechanization (like tractors) and water-saving technologies (such as drip irrigation) replaced traditional labor and energy sources, enhancing farming efficiency and productivity. Practices like intercropping also contributed to more effective land use.
What is the Impact of Technology on Farming?
Higher Yields with Less Land: Despite a modest increase in farmland (just 3.3% between 1961-62 to 2019-20), technological advances have significantly boosted production.
Growth in Agricultural Sector: The agricultural growth rate in India from 2005-06 to 2021-22 reached 3.7% annually, the highest recorded in different phases. This increase is attributed to the faster adoption of productivity-enhancing technologies, alongside improvements in rural infrastructure like roads, electricity, and irrigation.
Improved Efficiency: The integration of technology in farming has led to more output from the same or even fewer resources. This is a shift from traditional input-based growth to efficiency-driven production.
What are the Government initiatives to modernize agriculture?
National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGP-A): This program funds state and UT projects that employ advanced technologies like AI, Machine Learning, Robotics, Drones, Data Analytics, and Blockchain for developing agricultural solutions.
Digital Public Infrastructure for Agriculture: This open-source initiative aims to provide farmers with information services for crop planning, health, input access, credit, insurance, crop estimation, and market intelligence. It includes establishing core registries for farmers, geo-referencing of village maps, and crop sown registries. A pilot digital crop survey has been launched in 12 states.
Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM): Promotes farm mechanization, benefiting small and marginal farmers through high-tech equipment and awareness programs.
Technological Initiatives under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana: Includes Yield Estimation System based on Technology (YES-Tech), Weather Information Network Data Systems (WINDS) portal, and the AIDE/Sahayak door-to-door enrollment app for crop insurance.
ICAR Mobile Apps and Kisan Sarathi: Offers over 100 mobile apps and a digital platform for agricultural information and advisories.
Question for practice:
Examine the impact of technology on Indian agriculture and how it has contributed to higher productivity while reducing the reliance on traditional factors of production.
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