Introduction

Agriculture remains the pre-dominant occupation in India for vast sections of the population. Over the years, several new challenges have emerged before the sector. With fragmentation of agricultural holdings and depletion of water resources, the adoption of a resource-efficient, ICT based climate-smart agriculture can enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. Smallholder farming can be a lucrative livelihood opportunity with the application of appropriate technologies and adoption of natural, organic and Zero Budget Natural Farming. To transform the rural economy, greater emphasis should be given to allied sectors with a major focus on dairy, poultry, fisheries and rearing of small ruminants. The rationalisation of food subsidy and greater use of technology in food management will ensure food security for all.

• Gross Value Added (GVA) in agriculture improved from a negative 0.2% in 2014-15 to 6.3 % in 2016- 17 only to decelerate to 2.9% in 2018-19
• Crops, livestock and forestry sector showed fluctuating growth rates over the period from 2014-15 to 2017-18.
• Fisheries sector has shown a rapid growth from 4.9% in 2012-13 to 11.9% in 2017-18.
• Average annual growth rate in real terms in agricultural & allied sectors has remained at around 2.88% during 2014-15 to 2018-19.

• Share of agriculture, forestry & fishing sector in GVA has seen a steady decrease over the years from 15.4% in 2015-16 to 14.4% in 2018-19.
• Decline was mainly due to decline in the share of crops in GVA.
• Share of the livestock in GVA has remained around 4 per cent from 2012-13 to 2017-18.

• Gross Capital Formation (GCF) in agriculture and allied sectors as a percentage of GVA saw a rise to 17.7% in 2013- 14 but declined thereafter to 15.2% in 2017-18.
• Share of private investment in GCF in Agriculture sector shows a decline.

• Phase-I results of the Agriculture Census 2015-16 show that the number of operational holdings, has increased to 14.6 crore in 2015-16 from 13.8 crore in 2010-11. (Increase of 5.3%).
• Share of marginal holdings (less than 1 ha) in total operational holdings increased from 62.9% in 2000-01 to 68.5% in 2015-16.
• Share of small holdings (1 ha to 2 ha) decreased from 18.9% to 17.7% during this period.
• Large holdings (above 4 ha) decreased from 6.5% to 4.3%.
• Area operated by the marginal and small holdings increased from 38.9% in 2000-01 to 47.4% in 2015-16. Areas that of the large holdings decreased from 37.2% to 20 % during this period.

• Women play a significant and crucial role in agriculture including crop production, livestock production, horticulture, postharvest operations, Agri-social forestry, fisheries, etc.
• Share of operational holdings cultivated by women has increased from 11.7% in 2005-06 to 13.9% in 2015-16.
• Marginal and small holdings operated by women farmers together constitute 27.9% of total operational holdings cultivated by women.