Agriculture plays a vital role in India’s economy. Over 58 per cent of the rural households depend on agriculture as their principal means of livelihood. Agriculture, along with fisheries and forestry, is one of the largest contributors to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). As per estimates by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the share of agriculture and allied sectors (including agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishery) was 15.35 per cent of the Gross Value Added (GVA) during 2015-16 at 2011-12 prices. India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices and spice products. India’s fruit production has grown faster than vegetables, making it the second largest fruit producer in the world. For development of North Eastern Region and to bring it at par with the rest of the country, maximum emphasis needs to be given to Agriculture & Allied Sectors.
Allied Agriculture Management:-
-Agriculture is the most contributing and critical sector of the Indian economy.
-Along with the 26.8% it contributes to Gross Domestic Product; it also provides employment opportunities to nearly 2/3rd of the working force.
-It can be said that agriculture is the central sector of the Indian economy. And any changes in the agriculture sector have a large effect on the country’s economy.
-The biggest industries like textiles, food processing, milk, jute, and sugar all depend on agriculture to obtain the raw material.
Benefits of Allied Agriculture sector:-
1. These sectors provide raw materials to the industrial sector
2. They are a market for industrial products
3. Through the export of goods produced by the agriculture and allied sectors, foreign currency is earned.
Agricultural management is a key force affecting soil processes and functions. Triggered by biophysical constraints as well as rapid structural and technological developments, new management practices are emerging with largely unknown impacts on soil processes and functions. This impedes assessments of the potential of such emerging practices for sustainable intensification, a paradigm coined to address the growing demand for food and nonfood products. In terms of soil management, sustainable intensification means that soil productivity is increased while other soil functions and services, such as carbon storage and habitat for organisms, are simultaneously maintained or even improved.