Indian Agriculture Research Articles

Investigations into the Poor Energy use Practices of Irrigation Pumps by Indian Farmers: A Case Study

Investigations into the Poor Energy use Practices of Irrigation Pumps by Indian Farmers: A Case Study

Developing a Hybrid Irrigation System for Smart Agriculture Using IoT Sensors and Machine Learning in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan

The agriculture sector is one of the largest consumers of fresh water. Different types of irrigation systems are available, including center pivot, drip and sprinkler systems, and linear motion systems. However, the complex structure of existing irrigation systems and their high maintenance costs encourage Indian farmers to continue using these methods. Due to its ease of use and low energy consumption, surface irrigation is one of the most popular irrigation techniques. Although the main reasons for poor irrigation application efficiency are uneven irrigation water distribution and deep absorption, using a variety of technologies, countries are trying to increase the sustainability of agriculture. Automated irrigation systems contribute significantly to water conservation. The combination of automation and Internet of Things (IoT) improves agricultural practices. These technologies help farmers understand their crops, minimize their impact on the environment, and preserve resources. They also enable efficient monitoring of the weather, water resources, and soil. This research proposes an intelligent, low-cost field irrigation system. The proposed prototype can measure soil moisture, rain status, wind speed, water level, temperature, and humidity using a hardware sensor and unit. To decide whether to turn on or off the motor, a variety of sensors are used to get a range of readings and conclusions. They enable automatic watering when soil moisture levels are below a certain threshold, and if soil moisture is equal to the required moisture, then the irrigation process stops. Every few minutes, the sensors measure the environmental factors. Data are collected and stored on a ThingSpeak cloud server for analysis. To evaluate the data we collected, we used a variety of models, such as K-nearest neighbors (KNN), Naïve Bayes, random forest, and logistic regression. Compared to other Naïve Bayes and random forest models, the accuracy rate was 98.8%, the mean square error was 0.16, and the results of logistic regression, KNN, and SVM were in order: (98.3%/1.66), (99.3%/0.66), and (99.5%/0.5), respectively. In the end, an automated irrigation system run on IoT applications gives farmers access to remote monitoring and control, as well as information about the specifics of the irrigation field.

Development Prospects of Apple Farming in India

The cultivation of apples in India has observed significant growth and transformation over the years, becoming a crucial component of the country's horticultural landscape. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of apple production in India, highlighting key factors influencing its cultivation, challenges faced by growers, and the economic impact on the agricultural sector. The review begins by exploring the historical evolution of apple cultivation in India, tracing its origins and the introduction of different apple varieties. It examines the geographical distribution of apple orchards across the country, emphasizing the diverse agro-climatic zones that contribute to the cultivation of this temperate fruit.

India's Agricultural Labor Force: Challenges and Opportunities

India's Agricultural Labor Force: Challenges and Opportunities

Do rainfed production systems have lower environmental impact over irrigated production systems?: On -farm mitigation strategies

The intensive agriculture practices improved the crop productivity but escalated energy inputs (EI) and carbon foot print (CF) which contributes to global warming. Hence designing productive, profitable crop management practices under different production systems with low environmental impact (EI and CF) is the need of the hour. To identify the practices, quantification of baseline emissions and the major sources of emissions are required. Indian agriculture has diversified crops and production systems but there is dearth of information on both EI and CF of these production systems and crops. Hence the present study was an attempt to find hot spots and identify suitable strategies with high productivity, energy use efficiency (EUE) and carbon use efficiency (CUE). Energy and carbon balance of castor, cotton, chickpea, groundnut, maize, rice (both rainfed and irrigated), wheat, sugarcane (only irrigated), pigeon pea, soybean, sorghum, pearl millet (only rainfed) in different production systems was assessed. Field specific data on different crop management practices as well as grain and biomass yields were considered. Rainfed production systems had lower EI and CF than irrigated system. The nonrenewable sources of energy like fertilizer (64 %), irrigation (78 %), diesel fuel (75 %) and electricity (67 %) are the major source of energy input. Rainfed crops recorded higher CUE over irrigated condition. Adoption of technologies like efficient irrigation strategies (micro irrigation), enhancing fertilizer use efficiency (site specific nutrient management or slow release fertilizer), conservation agriculture (conservation or reduced tillage) rice cultivation methods (SRI or Direct seeded rice) were the mitigation strategies. These results will help policy makers and stake holders in adoption of suitable strategies for sustainable intensification.

Technological Solutions for Sustainable Agriculture

This report is a product of a series of three workshops organized during February 2021 and April 2022 to discuss on the various issues about sustainable agriculture in India. A particular focus was to take stock of the technological solutions available for climate change adaptation in agriculture and their socio-economic viability. While sixteen speakers presented their studies, 500 scholars participated in these workshops. There was a consensus that there is a need for combining modern technology-based instruments such as Internet of things (IoT) with the traditional sustainable agricultural practices for a gradual shift towards sustainable agriculture that can mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and enhance food productivity and security.

Deciphering whole genome sequence of a Newcastle disease virus genotype VII.2 isolate from a commercial poultry farm in India

Here we report the isolation and complete genome sequence of virulent Newcastle disease virus (NDV) during the outbreak in 2023. NDV is isolated from the infected egg-laying vaccinated chickens of poultry farms located in Raipur district in Chhattisgarh, India. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) revealed the present NDV isolate has a genome length of 15,118 nucleotides (GenBank: OR185447). The phylogenetic tree illustrates the evolutionary relationship among NDV species and populations indicating the present NDV strain (NDV/Chicken/RPR/01/23) classified as genotype VII in class 2. NDV isolate exhibited 99.19 % and 97.53 % similarities in the nucleotide sequence in comparison with other strains of NDV/Owl/Guwahati/01/20 (GenBank: MZ546197.1) from India and chicken/Banjarmasin/010/10 (GenBank: HQ697254.1) from Indonesia. The present NDV genome is closely aligned with the NDV/Owl/Guwahati/01/20 strain and was clustered in genotype VII in class 2 suggesting possible spillover among the viral strains. The amino acid sequence at the protein Fusion protein (F) cleavage sequence 112RRQKR*F117 which is distinctive with other lentogenic vaccine NDV strain of La Sota and postulated as a major determinant of NDV virulence. Since there is limited information available on the exact cause of the abrupt death of poultry chickens located in Raipur district in Chhattisgarh, India, the present study aims to examine molecular sequencing of circulating NDV strains causing high mortality in this region. The neutralization epitopes of virulent NDV strains will expedite in development next next-generation vaccines to control circulating viral strains across the globe. The derived scientific information on genetic diversity, current taxonomic classification, and antigenic variations that exist within the genome of NDV will help in developing strain-specific vaccines and implementing strict measures.

A Growing Prosperity of Okra Cultivation (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) under Mahaneem (Ailanthus excelsa) Based Agro-Silviculture System in a Semi-Arid Region of India

Production of food to feed the rapidly growing population of India is the current challenge. To overcome such global issues of food security and climate change, there is a need to develop a good economically feasible agroforestry system in the tropics. Besides that, Indian farmers also facing the effect of climate change on the monocropping system and lack of optimum land utilization for their economic sustainability. Hence, the economic feasibility of okra cultivation in the agri-silviculture system of mahaneem (Alianthus excelsa) in the arid zone was conducted at the Regional Research Station in Bawal, Haryana, India during two consecutive rainy seasons from July 2020 to October 2020 and July 2021 to October 2021. To create an economically prosperous agro-forestry system, okra varieties Varsha Uphar and Hisar Naveen were planted under various planting densities of Mahaneem in an agri-silvicultural system. Nevertheless, agroforestry is a compelling alternative that encourages social, economic, ecological and agricultural sustainability in response to these challenges. The ratio of net return to cultivation cost was used to compute the benefit-cost ratio for the test of the economic feasibility of the proposed agroforestry system in the semi-arid zone climate of India. The present study revealed that 10 x 10 m planting spacing with the Hisar Naveen okra variety calculated the highest net return (108528 Rs./ha & 123884 Rs./ha in the consecutive years) and benefit-cost ratio (1.90 & 1.86 in the consecutive years) which was highest profitable for farmers to get economic and ecological security. Hence, it is recommended that the Mahaneem-based agro-silviculture system, specifically incorporating the Hisar Naveen variety, proves to be economically more feasible compared to sole cropping which offers practical guidance for farmers and policymakers seeking effective strategies to enhance agricultural productivity amidst evolving environmental conditions.

Study on Access Agricultural Credit by Small and Marginal Farmers in India

Increased formalisation, more financial inclusion, and economic potential from changes spurred by digital technology have all contributed to the Indian economy's noteworthy gains. According to this survey, there has been a noticeable increase in the amount of loans given to small and marginal farmers—from 44.1% to 56.9%. On the other hand, throughout the same time frame, the proportion of related accounts decreased from 62.7% to 56.9%. In contrast to long-term loans, short-term credit has notably seen steady yearly increase. When the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for 1998–1999, 2021–2022, and total credit were analysed, the CAGR for production (crop) credit was 19.12%, for term loans it was 18.96%, and for total credit it was 19.13%. By contrasting the years 2021–22 with 2013–14, the study evaluates the proportionate presence of small and marginal farmers in ground-level lending as well. In order to improve output, income, and the general quality of life for small and marginal farmers, the findings point to the necessity of stepping up efforts in the areas of alternative livelihoods, poverty reduction, mainstreaming marginalised groups, and the promotion of appropriate technology and inputs.

Opportunities and Challenges in Protected Cultivation in India

Agriculture in India, deeply rooted in tradition and diversity, stands at the crossroads of unprecedented challenges and transformative opportunities. As the country grapples with a growing population, fluctuating climatic patterns, and the need for sustainable agricultural practices, protected cultivation emerges as a promising solution to reshape the trajectory of Indian agriculture. Protected cultivation, including the use of greenhouses, polyhouses, Crop cover, mulching film, and other controlled environment agriculture (CEA) technologies, has gained prominence in India as a means to enhance agricultural productivity and ensure food security. This research paper explores the opportunities and challenges associated with protected cultivation in the Indian context. The paper reviews the current status of protected cultivation, identifies key opportunities for growth, and discusses the challenges that hinder the widespread adoption of these technologies. It also provides insights into potential strategies and policy interventions that could contribute to the sustainable development of protected cultivation in India.

SMART farming - A new prospect in Agriculture Sector under Cold Arid Region of Ladakh, India

Indian agriculture has achieved many milestones from traditional to subsistence, and from modern to the emerging ‘Smart Farming’ era. This has eventually propelled the country into the ranks of food-sufficient nations, ensuring food security for all of us. Smart farming is the management of farms that uses technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, drones, and artificial intelligence (AI) to increase the quantity and quality of products while decreasing the amount of human labour required for production. Smart farming is paving the way for the country’s agricultural production to become more productive and sustainable, based on a more accurate and resource-efficient method. The paper provides a detailed analysis of various smart farming technologies, with a particular emphasis on IoT and their applications.

Financial Challenges Faced by Indian Farmers - A Case Study

Agriculture stands as the cornerstone of the Indian economy, influencing not only the livelihoods of millions but also contributing significantly to the nation's overall economic landscape. In the pursuit of understanding the intricate dynamics between agriculture and the economy, our research focused on conducting a comprehensive survey among Indian farmers.

Decadal variability of precipitation and moisture source attribution over India

AbstractThe seasonal variability of precipitation has a profound impact on water demand for India's agricultural and socio‐economic sectors which are associated with continental and surrounding oceanic moisture sources controlled by dynamic and thermodynamic processes. In this study, moisture sources have been tracked by the Lagrangian trajectory approach over four homogeneous regions: Northwest India (NWI), Central India (CEI), Northeast India (NEI) and South Peninsular India (SPI). ERA‐Interim reanalysis data are used throughout the study for three decades from 1989 to 2018. The results indicate that the multidecadal variability of precipitation has strengthened towards the mid‐decade (1999–2008), mainly attributable to moisture source transport from the Arabian Sea. These enhancement patterns of moisture sources have been widespread over Central India for all three decades. Moisture availability in the boundary layer highly affects the precipitation and it is found that 80% of the moisture above the boundary layer contributes >10% of monsoonal precipitation occurrences. Further, the NEI drying trend in monsoonal rainfall is found to be related to the consequent weakening of the land–ocean temperature gradient (LOTG) during all three decades in this region and the absence of low cloud cover over the region throughout the study period. In addition, the moisture sources are regulated by prevailing large‐scale features such as frequency of La Niña, northward shifting of low‐level jet and strengthening of Hadley cell.

An analysis of the legal regime for agricultural marketing in India

Abstract Despite the significant growth in the Indian economy and the expansion of the primary sector, farmers continue to live in extreme poverty and their hopelessness has been on the rise. Improving farmers’ conditions is crucial because there is no way to avoid the agrarian crisis or their dilemma. Over the years, the government has implemented several reforms despite farmers generally opposing these attempts. It goes without saying that the government must continue to develop the industry if it is to ensure the farmers in India continue to profit. The agricultural market system which is predominantly guided by the agricultural produce marketing legislations, has major flaws, which raises significant challenges in achieving a strong position for a farmer. The policies around price assurance have led to acute interventions, which have been attributed to fragmentation. On the one hand, government intervention is necessary, but on the other hand, too much of it will lead to negative effects. It calls for regulatory reform of the whole system using a balanced approach. This study has analysed the present-day structural problems in the marketing sector with relevance to the historical background of the reforms and suggested a few policy changes for a better future for the farmers.

The Political Economy Puzzle of Indian Agriculture: A Political Settlement Analysis

In their influential paper for the National Council of Applied Economic Research, Chatterjee and Kapur raised some fundamental questions about Indian agriculture and why it has not transformed with economic development. They identify six important ‘puzzles’ in Indian agriculture, one of which is the political economy puzzle. This puzzle refers to the fact that farmers have not been able to leverage their power of land and numbers to economically benefit themselves. The essay utilizes the political settlements framework to understand the underlying causes of this puzzle. Such analysis is important as it recognizes the historical and sociocultural traditions to explain the economic phenomenon of the backwardness of Indian agriculture.

PM PRANAM: Pioneering Sustainable Agriculture and Soil Health in India

PM PRANAM: Pioneering Sustainable Agriculture and Soil Health in India

Economy-wide impact of climate smart agriculture in India: a SAM framework

In the context of climate change, the Indian agricultural sector treads in a certain duality between promoting food security in response to the increasing population, but at the same time in ensuring environmental sustainability, and sustained economic growth, especially in developing countries like India. The concept of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) emerged from the recognition of this duality. Using the Indian Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) 2017–18, the economy-wide effects arising out of agricultural interventions were estimated, keeping accord with the impacts on sectoral outputs and household incomes from the adoption of varying CSA interventions such as Conservation Agriculture, System of Rice and Wheat Intensification (SRI-SWI) and Natural Farming, fitting the three-pillared criterion of CSA—(1) Productivity (2) Adaptation and (3) Mitigation. Additionally, a shift in cropping patterns from Paddy and Wheat to less emission-intensive crops was also studied. Results show that SRI-SWI provides the highest economy-wide impacts while accounting for lower GHG and water footprint. Alternative crops such as Maize, Sorghum, and Millet have minimal increase in income and output effects while having lower water and carbon intensity compared to rice and wheat. The current study would sensitize policymakers to prioritize suitable policy and institutional measures for upscaling climate smart interventions in India.

Revitalizing Millets for Nutritional Security & Fortifying Food and Uplifting Small and Marginal Farmers in India: A Review

This comprehensive analysis explores the significance of millets as a solution for small and marginal farmers in India. The country faces substantial challenges in food and nutritional security, exacerbated by climate change, inequality, and inadequate infrastructure. Millets offer a promising solution, addressing malnutrition, ensuring food security, and demonstrating resilience to climate change. By diversifying cropping systems and promoting value addition, millets provide income-generating opportunities for farmers. However, challenges such as low productivity, limited awareness, insufficient value chain infrastructure, and market linkages hinder the widespread adoption of millets. Government initiatives, including the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture and the National Food Security Mission, aim to support millet cultivation and production. Furthermore, policies promoting research and development, market access, and minimum support prices contribute to the growth of the millet sector. The nutritional benefits, climate resilience, and income opportunities associated with millets make them a valuable solution for small and marginal farmers. By investing in technology, infrastructure, and policy sup-port, India can harness the potential of millets to achieve sustainable agricultural practices, improve livelihoods, and ensure food and nutritional security.

Women Peasants in India: Farmers or ‘Farmers’ Wives’?

Even though there is an increasing trend towards the ‘feminisation of agriculture’, especially among the small and resource-poor farm households due to the increasing long-term migration of men, women’s work on the family farm is invisibilised to a very large extent in most parts of the country. One of the reasons for the absence of gender issues in the literature on agriculture is that women are not even regarded as farmers due to the absence of property rights for them. This paper is based on fieldwork conducted in villages of Punjab, Rajasthan and Telangana. It brings to light lesser-known facts about women’s ownership of land and their changing status in rural India. Based on data collected through primary research from 100 households in each of the three states, this paper concentrates on the less researched aspects of women in agriculture in India. The study focuses on women’s role as farmers, their control over land, their participation in agricultural activities on family farms, and decision-making, including decisions relating to the family. The analysis of data shows that there are regional differences in these aspects, which are mainly due to the differences in cultural factors relating to women’s status in society.

Farmers’ Awareness and Perception about Climate Change in the Indo-Gangetic Plain Region of India

Climate change is negatively impacting agriculture productivity worldwide. Accordingly, it becomes necessary to know the level of farmers’ awareness about climate change. The study was conducted in the year 2023 to examine farmers’ awareness and perceptions about nature, and the impact of changes in climate patterns on agriculture in India’s Indo Gangetic Plain (IGP) region. The study is based on a survey of 400 farmers, selected conveniently from five districts of Uttar Pradesh, a prominent province of the IGP region. The weighted average mean and chi-square test were applied to analyze the primary data. The findings indicate that farmers of the sampled area were aware of the problem, they get weather-related information from multiple sources like television, newspapers, etc. Almost half of the respondents in the sampled area strongly consider climate change as anthropogenic as well as naturogenic. Farmers perceived that reduced crop yields as the premier ultimatum of climate change in agriculture. The results unveil that the contrasting income groups have different levels of awareness of climate change similarly youth and educated farmers rely on their specific sources of weather-related information.