Contribution of Agriculture to the National Economy, Employment and Output

Agriculture in India employs nearly half of the country’s total workforce. In 2010-11, agriculture and allied sectors accounted for about 52% of the total employment in India.

Some major agricultural products of India are paddy, wheat, sugarcane, cotton, oilseeds, spices a variety of food grains, vegetables and fruits.

India is a net exporter of agricultural products and is therefore a net importer of food grains due to its poor agricultural productivity.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), agricultural universities, veterinary services and animal breeding centres, horticulture development, research and development in the field of meteorology and weather forecast, etc. are a few of the initiatives introduced by the government to improve Indian agriculture.