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Abstract
Agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy because of its high share in employment and livelihood creation. The share of agriculture in the gross domestic product has registered a steady decline yet this sector provides direct employment to more than fifty present of total workforce in the country and a large proportion of the population depends upon agro-based industries and trade of agriculture products. It also an important source of raw material and demand for many industrial products, particularly fertilizers pesticides, agricultural implements and a variety of consumer goods contribute significantly to the exports. However, the growth of agriculture over a period of time remained lower than the growth in non-agriculture sectors. Agriculture plays a vital role in India’s economy. 54.6% of the population is engaged in agriculture and allied activities (census 2011) and it contributes 17% to the country’s Gross Value Added (current price 2015-16, 2011-12 series). As per the land use statistics 2013-14, the total geographical area of the country is 328.7 million hectares, of which 141.4 million hectares is the reported net shown area and 200.9 million hectares is the gross cropped area with a cropping intensity of 142%. The net shown area works out to be 43% of the total geographical area. The net irrigated area is 68.2 million hectares. Agriculture Gross Value Added (GVA).