Modernization of agriculture

Modernisation of agriculture results from a whole galaxy of factors, that include physical input, economic, organisational, cultural, motivational and knowledge factors. While all these factors cannot be provided in one go, they trickle in slowly over a long time before they get established and stabilised.

Physical Input Factors:

Land
Climate,
seeds,
water,
Fertilises,
pesticides,
institutional arrangements,
work animals,
other animals,
Tools and machinery,
fuel and power other than animal power,
Manual labour and skilled labour.

Economic Factors

Transport, storage, processing and Marketing facilities.
Facilities for the supply and distribution of inputs, including credit.
Input prices including interest rates.
Products prices including prices of consumer goods.
Taxes, subsidies and quotas.

Organisational Factors

Land tenure;
Farm size;
General government Services and policies;
Voluntary and statutory farmer’s organisation for; (a) Coordinating physical input use like Irrigation, tractors, etc.; (b) Economic services like purchase, sale, credit, etc.; (c) Social services like Education and Health; (d) Diffusion of knowledge like adult education, youth clubs, etc. and; (e) Local Government.

Cultural and Motivational Factors

Integration of agricultural institutions (like practices and values) within the culture and social system of the nation;
Public Administration factors like structure and mode of operation of the Bureaucracy;
Social structure like cultural values and dynamics of peasant communities;
Processes of socio-cultural changes like barriers and motivations in the innovative practices, functional harmony, etc.

Knowledge Factors

Technical knowledge like agronomy, plant genetics, Soil science, water management, agricultural engineering, pest control, etc.;
Economic knowledge like land economics, general economics, farm management;
Knowledge of policies in planning and public administration;
General educational initiatives like Literacy promotion, adult education, mass Communication, etc.

Indian perspective

Farmers have been provided assistance for owning agricultural machinery including tractors. Besides this farm machines are exhausted for their characteristics and betterment. Five states agricultural universities are being aided for farm machinery testing, training and human Resources development. In spite of the efforts the improvement in farm machinery use has been mainly northern states and in few areas where irrigation facilities have been developed.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM), in eco-friendly approach, was adopted as a major thrust area of crop protection during 8th plan. IPM aims at minimal use of hazardous chemical pesticides by using alternate pest control methods and technique. The surveillance for pests and diseases on economically important crop was carried out and about 1,603 million bio-agents were released.

Total net sown area in the country is about 142 million ha and out of it 92.6 million ha is rainfed. Production has wide fluctuation due to variation in rainfall as whole farming depends upon rainfall which is often erratic and unpredictable. Jowar, bajra other Millets pulses, oilseeds and Cotton are grown. Increase and stability in their productivity is of crucial importance. In the 8th plan holistic approach was adopted under the National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Area (N WDPRA). It aimed at development of Integrated Farming System on watershed basin in shifted areas.

The NWDPRA was launched in 1990-91, with the objective of restoration of ecological balances in rainfed areas and sustainable bio-mass production. It also works for generating EMPLOYMENT opportunities for rural manner in rainfed areas by developing self-help groups. Under this project the target is of treating 28 million ha area. The Integrated Watershed Development Project (Hills) and Integrated Watershed Development Project (Plains) are underway and their main aim is slow down and reverse degradation of natural Environment and improve potential of the areas.

The Technology Mission on oilseeds provided the necessary breakthrough in oilseeds production. Oilseeds sector has now become to major Foreign Exchange earner. The oilseed production was doubled in decade (12.6 mt in 1987-88 to 24.4 mt 1996-97).

Time is popularly famous as Yellow Revolution. Pulses and maize were also brought under the ambit of Technology Mission. Centrally-sponsored Oilseeds Production Programme (OPP), National Pulses Development Project (NPDP), and Accelerated Maize Development Programme (AMDP) are being continued in 9th Plan also.

The production of fruits and vegetables was 38.3 and 67.24 million tonnes respectively. India attained second position in coconut production. Above 10% of coconut production is from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. India is the worlds, leading producer and exporter of cashew accounting for nearly world’s 50% demand.

Agriculture is the practice of cultivating Plants and Livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to live in cities. The history of agriculture began thousands of years ago. After gathering wild grains beginning at least 105,000 years ago, nascent farmers began to plant them around 11,500 years ago. Pigs, sheep and cattle were domesticated over 10,000 years ago. Plants were independently cultivated in at least 11 regions of the world.

Industrial agriculture based on large-scale Monoculture in the twentieth century came to dominate agricultural output, though about 2 billion people still depended on subsistence agriculture into the twenty-first.

Modernization of agriculture is the process of introducing new technologies and methods to farming in order to increase productivity and efficiency. This can include things like using new machinery, adopting new crop varieties, and improving irrigation systems.

There are many benefits to modernizing agriculture. For one, it can help to increase food production. As the world’s Population continues to grow, there is a growing demand for food. Modernizing agriculture can help to meet this demand by increasing the amount of food that can be produced.

In addition, modernizing agriculture can help to improve the Quality Of Life for farmers. By using new technologies and methods, farmers can reduce their workload and improve their yields. This can lead to higher incomes and a better quality of life for farmers and their families.

However, there are also some challenges associated with modernizing agriculture. One challenge is that it can lead to environmental problems. For example, the use of pesticides and Fertilizers can pollute water supplies and harm wildlife. In addition, the clearing of forests to make way for new agricultural land can contribute to Climate Change.

Another challenge is that modernizing agriculture can lead to social problems. For example, the use of large-scale machinery can displace small farmers. In addition, the concentration of agricultural land in the hands of a few large corporations can lead to higher food prices for consumers.

Despite these challenges, modernizing agriculture is an important part of meeting the world’s growing food needs. By carefully managing the risks and challenges, modernizing agriculture can help to improve the lives of farmers and consumers around the world.

Here are some specific examples of how agriculture has been modernized in recent years:

The development of new high-yield crop varieties has allowed farmers to produce more food with less land.
The use of new irrigation systems has made it possible to grow crops in areas that were previously too dry.
The development of new pesticides and herbicides has helped to control pests and diseases.
The use of new machinery has made it possible to farm more land with less labor.

These technological advances have had a profound impact on agriculture. They have made it possible to produce more food with less land, labor, and water. This has helped to feed a growing population and reduce the cost of food.

However, these advances have also come with some challenges. The use of pesticides and herbicides has led to environmental problems, such as the contamination of water supplies and the decline of wildlife populations. The concentration of agricultural land in the hands of a few large corporations has led to higher food prices for consumers.

What is agriculture?

Agriculture is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to live in cities. The history of agriculture began thousands of years ago. After gathering wild grains beginning at least 105,000 years ago, nascent farmers began to plant them around 11,500 years ago. Pigs, sheep and cattle were domesticated over 10,000 years ago. Plants were independently cultivated in at least 11 regions of the world.

What is modernization?

Modernization is a process of Social Change that transforms a Society from a traditional or agrarian society to one characterized by industrialization, Urbanization, and mass communication. Modernization is a complex and multifaceted process that has been studied by social scientists for many years. There is no single definition of modernization, but it is generally understood to involve a number of interrelated changes, including:

Economic Development: The shift from an agricultural economy to an Industrial Economy.
Social change: The shift from a traditional society to a modern society.
Political change: The shift from a traditional political system to a modern political system.
Cultural change: The shift from a traditional culture to a modern culture.

What are the benefits of modernization?

There are many benefits to modernization, including:

Increased economic Growth: Modernization can lead to increased economic growth, as it allows countries to produce more goods and services.
Improved living standards: Modernization can lead to improved living standards, as it can provide people with access to better education, healthcare, and housing.
Increased social mobility: Modernization can lead to increased social mobility, as it allows people to move up the social ladder based on their skills and abilities.
Reduced POVERTY: Modernization can lead to reduced poverty, as it can create more jobs and opportunities for people.
Improved environmental sustainability: Modernization can lead to improved environmental sustainability, as it can help countries to develop more efficient and sustainable ways of producing goods and services.

What are the challenges of modernization?

There are also a number of challenges associated with modernization, including:

Social inequality: Modernization can lead to social inequality, as it can widen the gap between the rich and the poor.
Environmental Degradation: Modernization can lead to environmental degradation, as it can increase the use of resources and the production of pollution.
Cultural loss: Modernization can lead to cultural loss, as it can lead to the erosion of traditional values and customs.
Political instability: Modernization can lead to political instability, as it can lead to changes in the balance of power and the emergence of new social groups.
Conflict: Modernization can lead to conflict, as it can lead to competition for resources and power.

What is the future of modernization?

The future of modernization is uncertain. Some experts believe that modernization will continue to spread and that it will eventually lead to a globalized world in which all countries are economically and technologically advanced. Others believe that modernization will face increasing challenges, such as environmental degradation, social inequality, and political instability. It is likely that the future of modernization will be shaped by a complex interplay of factors, including technological advances, economic development, and political change.

Question 1

Which of the following is not a factor that has contributed to the modernization of agriculture?

(A) The development of new technologies
(B) The increase in the use of fertilizers and pesticides
(C) The decline in the number of farmers
(D) The increase in the size of farms

Answer

The decline in the number of farmers is not a factor that has contributed to the modernization of agriculture. In fact, the opposite is true. The modernization of agriculture has led to a decline in the number of farmers, as fewer people are needed to produce the same amount of food.

Question 2

Which of the following is not a benefit of the modernization of agriculture?

(A) Increased food production
(B) Reduced environmental impact
(C) Increased income for farmers
(D) Improved quality of life for farmers

Answer

(B) Reduced environmental impact

The modernization of agriculture has had a negative impact on the environment. The use of fertilizers and pesticides has polluted water supplies and killed wildlife. The clearing of forests to make way for farms has contributed to climate change.

Question 3

Which of the following is not a challenge facing the modernization of agriculture?

(A) The need to develop new technologies
(B) The need to reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides
(C) The need to protect the environment
(D) The need to ensure that food is affordable for everyone

Answer

(D) The need to ensure that food is affordable for everyone

The need to ensure that food is affordable for everyone is not a challenge facing the modernization of agriculture. In fact, the modernization of agriculture has made food more affordable for everyone.

Question 4

Which of the following is not a goal of the modernization of agriculture?

(A) To increase food production
(B) To reduce the cost of food
(C) To protect the environment
(D) To improve the quality of life for farmers

Answer

(B) To reduce the cost of food

The goal of the modernization of agriculture is not to reduce the cost of food. In fact, the modernization of agriculture has made food more expensive. The goal of the modernization of agriculture is to increase food production, protect the environment, and improve the quality of life for farmers.

Question 5

Which of the following is not a way to achieve the goals of the modernization of agriculture?

(A) Developing new technologies
(B) Reducing the use of fertilizers and pesticides
(C) Protecting the environment
(D) Increasing the size of farms

Answer

(D) Increasing the size of farms

Increasing the size of farms is not a way to achieve the goals of the modernization of agriculture. In fact, increasing the size of farms can make it more difficult to protect the environment and improve the quality of life for farmers.