Role of science and technology for agricultural revival in India
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/20425941211244261 |
| Date | 31 May 2012 |
| Published date | 31 May 2012 |
| Pages | 108-119 |
| Author | Seema Joshi |
| Subject Matter | Public policy & environmental management,Environmental technology & innovation |
Role of science and technology for
agricultural revival in India
Seema Joshi
Department of India Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Kirori Mal College,
University of Delhi, Delhi, India
Abstract
Purpose – Several empirical studies have shown that the “servicization” of India’s economy has taken
place in terms of structural changes in GDP. But the structural changes in terms of employment have
been slow, as agriculture is still the mainstay of more than 50 per cent of the total workforce. Though
agriculture is still the predominant sector of the economy in terms of employment and livelihood, it is
losing its dynamism. The country has been striving to achieve target of 4 per cent growth in
agriculture since the 8th Five Year Plan so essential for achieving the objective of “inclusive g rowth”.
However,the country is nowhere near the goal even in the penultimate year of 11th Five year Plan. The
purpose of this paper is to emphasize the need for application of science and technology in India’s
agriculture to ensure sustainable development of agriculture with food security and also for tapping
the “demographic dividend”. The agricultural crisis in India motivated the author to take up this
study.
Design/methodology/approach – The present study mainly used secondary sources of data. The
analysis of secondary data available in various documents, reports etc. revealed that agriculture in
India is indeed passing through crisis. The review of literature revealed that science and technology
can play a crucial role in rejuvenation of India’s agriculture.
Findings – The paper shows that an integrated application of science and technology with social
wisdom can help in checking the most serious form of brain-drain (i.e. migration of youth from ru ral to
urban areas), mitigate the adverse impact of climate change and rejuvenate/revive India’s agriculture
so very essential for sustainability of India’s growth, as has been stressed by Swaminathan.
Originality/value – The paper emphasizes the need for application of science and technology in
India’s agriculture to ensure sustainable development of agriculture with food security.
Keywords India, Agriculture, Economic development, Servicization, Structural changes,
Inclusive growth, Agricultural crisis, Technology fatigue, Food security, Demographic dividend,
Climate change, Rejuvenation
Paper type Conceptual p aper
I. Introduction
Liberalization, privatization and globalization in July 1991 heralded a golden era of
growth for India with services secto r playing the major role. The entire economic
landscape stands changed now as India has become a service economy .The
servicization of India’s economy has taken place in terms of changes in the structure of
production. The service sector accounts for mo re than 55 percent of GDP. However, in
terms of employment structure India is still an agrarian economy as 55.9 percent of
population in 2007-2008 was engaged in agriculture (Government of India (GOI), 2011,
p. 238). In addition to employment, agriculture contributes significantly to export
earnings and is an important source of raw materials. Analysis of data clearly brings
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/2042-5945.htm
WorldJour nal of Science, Technology
and Sustainable Development
Vol. 9 No. 2, 2012
pp. 108-119
rEmeraldGroup PublishingLimited
2042-5945
DOI 10.1108/20425941211244261
The author deeply acknowledges Professor M.S. Swaminathan for having allowed reproduction
of his views in this paper. The author thanks also Professor Ramesh Chand and IGIDR, Mumbai,
for having allowed the reproduction of material from their relevant articles.
108
WJSTSD
9,2
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