Economic Survey 2017: Volume II, Chapter 7: Agriculture and Food Management

Agriculture and allied sector has a critical role in ensuring food security, reducing poverty and sustaining growth in India. To improve productivity in agriculture the focus has been on the critical inputs like irrigation, seeds, fertilisers and mechanization. The dynamics of agricultural growth reflect a reduction in the share of crop sector and an increase in the share of agricultural sub-sectors. As agriculture entails risks related to production, weather, prices and policy, capitalizing the structural changes in the agriculture sector by diversifying income generating activities can mitigate the risks and sustain growth of the economy.