Indian Agriculture Since Independence

Abstract

The Indian economy has undergone structural changes over time with variation in the share of agriculture in the GDP. The importance of agriculture has not diminished for two major reasons. First, the country achieved self-sufficiency in food production at the macro level but still has a food deficit. Second, the dependence of the rural workforce on agriculture for employment has not declined in proportion to the sectoral contribution to GDP. This paper is an attempt to describe the Green Revolution and Economic Reforms of 1991 as two major events that have brought about a change in Indian Agriculture and its contribution to the GDP. For this, the analysis section is divided into 4 major phases covering the after and before of these two events. It also presents various government reforms and measures that were implemented. Further, this paper also analyses the situation of Indian agriculture during COVID 19 and the new agriculture policy, 2020.