How agriculture revolution took place in economic development

Here we discuss how agriculture revolution took place in economic development and take an example of a country and discuss briefly how an underdeveloped country step up towards developing country with the help of the agriculture revolution.

We measure the growth rate of a country with the help of the GDP (Gross domestic product).GDP is an important factor for an economy of a country. The monetary term of GDP is GNI (Gross national Income).The share of national income derived from the three sector of the economy; they are primary sector, secondary sector and tertiary sector.

We consider agriculture and allied activities with related agriculture as primary sector. Industry sector consider as a secondary sector and different kind of service, such as banking sector, health sector, scientific invention consider as a tertiary sector.

In underdeveloped countries primary sector or agriculture sector plays a vital role for share on national income and employment generations. In underdeveloped countries lack of literacy rate, high rate of population growth and lack of proper knowledge to utilize the resources optimally compelled them to depend on primary sector .So, pressure and dependency on the primary sector is huge. On the other hand developed countries depend marginally on primary sector, because they invent lots of techniques to produce more on a shorter period of time and utilize the recourses optimally with their skills and knowledge. Developed countries able to control their population growth rate so, pressure on agriculture land are also low. Moreover excessive productions on agriculture sector, export of productions and earn foreign currencies help them to build up secondary and tertiary sector .Most of the developed country, like Germany, UK, USA derived 2-3 % share as GDP from agriculture.

So, it is clear that as a country developed the pressure on primary sector decreased and with the help of new invention and technology secondary and tertiary sector grows. The share derived from secondary and tertiary sector play a vital role on developed countries economy.

How primary sector important for development

Primary sector or agriculture sector is really important for underdeveloped countries. As in underdeveloped countries secondary and tertiary sector not able to grow faster or generate sufficient employment, so, agriculture sector occupied a vital role.

So, it is clear that if under developed countries paying attention on agriculture sector and able to produce more with new techniques and knowledge, then it will be possible to come out the existing situations.

This is possible with the help of the agriculture revolutions, with the help of the HYV (high yielding varieties) seeds, proper knowledge of cultivation, use of pesticides and new techniques trigger the production process far better than the earlier.

Agriculture revolutions not only trigger the high rate of production but it also creates a path towards development .Below we discuss one by one………

1) Due to agriculture revolution production is high, so countries get able to food sufficiency. Dependency on foreign country reduced. Moreover the particular country now able to export agriculture product to other countries. So terms of trade improved the particular country now able to invest more on infrastructure and human development facilities.

2) The demand of agriculture equipments also increased. So the related industry on agriculture equipment will be developed. Agro product based industry also flourishes simultaneously. Different type of agriculture machines industry, fertilizers, pesticides, small related industry also developed. To reached the produced product in proper place and time good communication system is needed. So, the particular country concentrated on communication system, developed good transport system for better communication. In this way the particular country develop their health facilities, education facilities and emphasis on technological development to optimally use the resources.

3) Primary sector is the largest employment providing sector in underdeveloped countries. Dependency on land is higher in underdeveloped countries. Moreover high growth rate of population create excessive pressure on agricultural land. Small land holding, disguised unemployment, under employment are common feature in underdeveloped countries .Per capita income is also very low in agricultural sector. So, agricultural revolution opens up the space to generate new employment scope in the economy. In other words agriculture revolution release pressure from primary sector and increase per capita income in primary sector.

4) Due to the increased concentrate on secondary and tertiary sector economic growth observed and in the mean time skilled working force is also needed to operate these sectors. So, Governments more focused to develop the skills of works and human capital.

To discuss the points more elaborately, here we have taken an example of a developing country, like India.

Before the 1947 or independence of India, due to the prevailing colonial policy Indian agriculture suffered very much. The existence of Zamindari system ruins the agriculture of India. Zamindars shucked the blood of the rural poor. Farmers only left substantial yield after paying high rate of tax. So, Indian agriculture considered as a substantial occupation during the pre-independence period. After independence Indian agriculture had able to recover some around from its substantial condition, but the traditional practices not brought so much change in agriculture of India.

Moreover huge pressure on the same land decreased the marginal income of the farmers. In 1950-51 India derived 56.5 percent GDP from agriculture and 69.5 percent of working population engaged with agriculture.

So, during 1950-51 agriculture sectors provided employment of a large portion of population. In this time agriculture sector suffered with low productivity and generate disguised and under employment agriculture labors.

A big push was needed to revive the economic condition of India .On 1960-61 Indian agriculture changes massively through green revolution. Application of HYV seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and more concentrate on area specific crop, production of grains like wheat, rice and some pulses increased.

It was the turning point of Indian agriculture, latter yellow revolution (oil seeds), golden fiber revolution (jute production),golden revolution (honey and horticulture), silver fiber revolution (cotton) etc. push up the Indian agriculture in many times.

Today India occupies a leading position in world trade of agriculture products. India export mainly Basmati rice, spices, sugar, cotton and castor oil in USA, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Nepal and Bangladesh. In the current era India earn a significant amount through the trading of agro commodities. More over in 1991 new economic policy help India to develop better trade policies with the world.

India’s agriculture share in GDP on 1950-51 was 56.5%, on 1996-97 was 27.9%, 2013-14 was 17.7% and on 2019-2020 is 16.5%.

Similarly if we go through the working population engaged in agriculture sector on 1950-51 was 69.5 percent, on 1996-97 was 62 percent, on 2013-14 was 58 percent and 2019-20 is 53 percent.

How agriculture revolution took place in economic development

If we go through the bar graph, it was clearly shown that as the economy of the India develop the share of agriculture of GDP decreased and slowly its employed worker also decreased. So pressure on agriculture decreased .Simultaneously the working forces are engaged in secondary and tertiary sector. This bar graph shows that how India grows towards as a developed country.

Conclusion

Here we try to discuss briefly how an agriculture revolution helps to develop a country towards a developed country. So, agriculture revolution is an important term in economic development.