Question

Discuss four modern inputs that have helped to improve agriculture in India and explain how they have contributed to better yields?

Answer 1

1. High Yielding Variety of Seeds: India received HYV wheat from Mexico and rice from the Philippines. Later HYVs of maize and jowar were also introduced. Over time, more than 430 varieties of pulses, 130 of maize, and 3,000 of wheat have been developed, giving a remarkable boost to output.
2. Fertilizers: One of the most significant aspects of contemporary agriculture technology is the application of fertilisers. Fertiliser consumption rose from just 784.6 thousand tonnes in 1965–66 to 25,449.2 thousand tonnes in 2016–17. Punjab and Telangana are the largest consumers, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Haryana.
3. Irrigation: The application of high-yielding seed and fertiliser kinds is largely dependent on the crops guaranteed water supply, and consistent, regular irrigation is the fundamental component for boosting agricultural output. Irrigated area increased from 22.6 million hectares in 1950–51 to 31.17 million hectares in 1965–66, and further to 102.77 million hectares in 2007. The Ultimate Irrigation Potential (UIP) is estimated at 139.89 million hectares, of which over 60% has been utilised.
4. Farm Mechanisation: Though some regions are mechanised, most farming still relies on traditional tools like sickles and wooden ploughs. Machines are used for ploughing, sowing, irrigating, weeding, harvesting, and threshing, which increases yields and reduces waste of human labour.