Agriculture

Agriculture also called farming or husbandry is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi, and other life forms for food, fiber, biofuel and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the development of civilization. The study of agriculture is known as agricultural science. Agriculture generally speaking refers to human activities, although it is also observed in certain species of ant and termite. The word agriculture is the English adaptation of Latin agricultūra, fromager, "a field", and cultūra, "cultivation" in the strict sense of "tillage of the soil". Thus, a literal reading of the word yields "tillage of fields".

IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN INDIA:

• Nearly two-third of India's population is dependent on agriculture.
• Agriculture has been the backbone of the Indian economy
• Agriculture accounts for 26% of the gross domestic product.
• Agriculture ensures food security for the millions and raw materials for Industries.
• Agriculture's share in providing employments and livelihood to the population continues to be as high as 63 percent in 2001.

Factors that make India a unique country from agricultural point of view:
It has vast expense of level land, rich soil, wide climatic variations suited for various types of crops, ample sunshine and a long growing season.