In the context of the Singur situation relating to land ownership, the view that in addition to accelerated agricultural progress there is a need to create greater avenues for employment in the industrial and services sectors gains support.
The green revolution of the sixties helped to instil self-confidence in our agricultural capability and also to purchase time in relation to achieving a balance between population growth and food production.
Agriculture plays a significant role in the Indian economy. Food production in India has increased from 51 MT in 1950-51 to 204.6 MT in 2004. While Green Revolution has been one of the greatest success stories of India with its dramatic impact on food security, environmental concerns have been growing rapidly all over the world.
Irrigation water security is vital both for livelihood and food security. While the country has made large investments in the augmentation of water supply, there have been no commensurate efforts in the management of demand and in the promotion of efficient and economic water use. This report draws attention to the scope available for improving the efficiency of use of irrigation water in a manner that both the productivity and profitability of farming are enhanced.
