Farm Sector in Uttar Pradesh
NOTE
ON
FARM SECTOR
IN
UTTAR PRADESH
SUNIL KUMAR
OCTOBER,2005
Department of Planning, Government of Uttar Pradesh
1
Note on Farm Sector in Uttar Pradesh
Introduction The economy of Uttar Pradesh is predominantly agrarian and performance of agriculture and allied activities such as horticulture, animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries are critical in determining the growth rate of the State. Primary sector (inclusive of mining) contributed 36.8% to the State’s income in 2003-04 and provided employment to 66% of total workers. However, the share of this sector in State income has been progressively reducing.
Table 1: Contribution of various sectors to State income
50 40 30 20 10 0 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 Prim ary Secondary Tertiary
Farmers & farming community Out of an estimated number of 22.15 million rural households in Uttar Pradesh, 77.4% are farmer households. According to data released by NSSO based on 59th round of NSS, 24% of UP farmers (27% at all India level) did not like farming and felt that agriculture was not profitable. In all 41% farmers in UP (40% at all India level) felt that, given a choice, they would take up some other career. This indicates a serious problem wherein the main protagonist is suffering from low self esteem and does not believe that what he is doing is worthwhile economically or even socially. In the social hierarchy, farming as a profession now figures considerably low in the social order. Data released by NSSO also brings to the fore certain important facets about farmers, farming community and their awareness of Government initiatives taken in the sector. Awareness level of UP farmers is close to the all India figures in respect of biofertilizers, crop insurance etc. While at all India level, about 18% of farmer households knew what bio-fertilizers were and 29% understood what minimum support price meant, in UP these figures were 15% and 33% respectively. At all India level only 4% of farmer
ON
FARM SECTOR
IN
UTTAR PRADESH
SUNIL KUMAR
OCTOBER,2005
Department of Planning, Government of Uttar Pradesh
1
Note on Farm Sector in Uttar Pradesh
Introduction The economy of Uttar Pradesh is predominantly agrarian and performance of agriculture and allied activities such as horticulture, animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries are critical in determining the growth rate of the State. Primary sector (inclusive of mining) contributed 36.8% to the State’s income in 2003-04 and provided employment to 66% of total workers. However, the share of this sector in State income has been progressively reducing.
Table 1: Contribution of various sectors to State income
50 40 30 20 10 0 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 Prim ary Secondary Tertiary
Farmers & farming community Out of an estimated number of 22.15 million rural households in Uttar Pradesh, 77.4% are farmer households. According to data released by NSSO based on 59th round of NSS, 24% of UP farmers (27% at all India level) did not like farming and felt that agriculture was not profitable. In all 41% farmers in UP (40% at all India level) felt that, given a choice, they would take up some other career. This indicates a serious problem wherein the main protagonist is suffering from low self esteem and does not believe that what he is doing is worthwhile economically or even socially. In the social hierarchy, farming as a profession now figures considerably low in the social order. Data released by NSSO also brings to the fore certain important facets about farmers, farming community and their awareness of Government initiatives taken in the sector. Awareness level of UP farmers is close to the all India figures in respect of biofertilizers, crop insurance etc. While at all India level, about 18% of farmer households knew what bio-fertilizers were and 29% understood what minimum support price meant, in UP these figures were 15% and 33% respectively. At all India level only 4% of farmer
References: 1. Rural Economic Environment – NABARD 2. Summary Report of Agriculture Summit – April 2005 3. First Report of National Farmer Commission 4. Report of the Committee on India Vision 2020 5. Report of the National Bio Fuel Mission 6. Report of the Committee on Capital Formation in Agriculture 7. NSSO Reports 8. Mid Term Appraisal of the Tenth Five Year Plan of Uttar Pradesh 25 9. 10. Innovations in agricultural extension in India – Rasheed Sulaiman V, ICAR Emerging Trends in Marketing of Agri-Produce – Dr.S.P.Singh & Sanjeev Sharma 26