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Abstract
Since ever 1970-71, growth in Indian agriculture has been approximately 3%, above that in population but well below that in the entire economy comprising of agriculture, industry and services. By implication, while per-capita agricultural output has been a steady rise, in the share of agricultural sector in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has fallen. The rise in per-capita agricultural production has gone a long way toward easing pressure on the food and nutrition security of the country. Unfortunately, however the growth in agricultural output has characterized by fluctuations; each high growth period is followed by the phase of low growth. This cyclical pattern has reflected itself in annual growth rates of approximately 3% in the 10th Plan, 4% in the 11th Plan and just 1.7% during the first three years of the 12th Plan. Specific sub sectors, most notably crop segment, are subject to occasional severe negative shocks leading to serious distress. Crop production in the country is dominated by cultivation of paddy in Kharif and wheat in Rabi seasons. These crops cover over and about 38 per cent of gross cropped area in the country. Cereals including coarse cereals remarkably occupy more than half of the total land under cultivation.