AN INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURE

A comprehensive, vibrant, and quality agricultural education system, in congruence with a dynamic research and technology development setting, is fundamental to the national progress and prosperity. The ICAR-Agricultural University system, through creating trained human resources, and generating and transferring new knowledge, technologies and products, had ushered in the Green, White, Yellow and Blue Revolutions, transforming the country from a food-deficit to a food-surplus nation.

Agriculture, with its allied sectors, is unquestionably the largest livelihood provider in India, more so in the vast rural areas. It also contributes a significant figure to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Sustainable agriculture, in terms of food security, rural employment, and environmentally sustainable technologies such as soil conservation, sustainable natural resource management and biodiversity protection, are essential for holistic rural development. Indian agriculture and allied activities have witnessed a green revolution, a white revolution, a yellow revolution and a blue revolution.

The agrarian process during the past few years has, however, slackened and serious asymmetries exist in science-led growth of agriculture, farmers income and food and nutrition securities. The food demanded by 2050 is projected to almost double and is to be realised in an environmentally friendly sustainable manner from the shrinking land, water and biodiversity resources.

India’s food and agriculture system is not so satisfactory, state and agrarian economy could partly be attributed to the decline in quality of agricultural education. As foremost step by step for quality improvement in education, the ICAR has appointed the Fifth Deans Committee for suggestions on a holistic approach for quality assurance and effective governance in agricultural education.

This book brings out in detail the agriculture courses recommended for the UG programme by the Deans Committee as accepted by the ICAR. I sincerely hope that this book will serve as a text-book for agriculture students of all agriculture universities, a resource of teachers and scientists in the areas of Indian agriculture, Evolution and Development of Agriculture, Soil and Water Conservation, Soil Fertility Management, Pest and Disease Management, Field Crops and Horticulture and Allied Sectors. It will also serve as a guide to extension officials of the department of agriculture.