MILESTONES
1947
India had a Grow More Food Campaign going, but was reeling after the Bengal famine, residual fallout of WW II and a massive cyclone in Odisha. The country was producing just 50 MT of foodgrains, though it employed a colossal 82 percent of India’s male workforce
1950s
Integrated Production Programme started focusing on food and cash crops supply
1968
Severe drought in 1965-66 along with the Indo-Pak war pushed India into its first big agriculture reform— Green Revolution led to increase in foodgrains production in Punjab, Haryana and UP
1991
Liberalisation leads to a surge in consumption among middle class. Demand for fruits, dairy, fish, meat and vegetables leads to a shift in focus to ‘high crop value’ agriculture
1986
Yellow Revolution pushes production of edible oilseeds such as groundnut, mustard, soyabean, sunflower, sesame, etc. In 10 years, Indian oilseeds production doubles from 12 MT to 24 MT
1985
India pursues Blue Revolution, giving the fisheries industry a defined structure. Fisheries and aquaculture contribute 1 per cent and 5 per cent to India’s GDP and agricultural GDP respectively now
1970
Operation Flood accelerates milk production in India. In 1973, Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd is formed to scale up operations of its brand,
Amul
2000
ITC launches e-Chaupal, a first-of-its-kind corporate digital initiative to benefit farmers
2002
India allows production of GM crop BT cotton
2003
Model APMC law passed. Farmers and local authorities can set up markets; food processing and exports get a push
2009
Environment ministry halts commercial production of GM foods
2022
Focus shifts to natural and organic farming, pushing cooperatives, farmer-producer organisations, and decentralised processing and marketing
2021
Government backs down, new farm laws withdrawn
2020
Three farm laws passed, allowing opening up of agri produce markets and giving flexibility to farmers and traders to stock and sell produce. Farm unions revolt, raise fears of big industry wiping out small farmers
2019
Just before the pandemic hit, agriculture employed more than 50 per cent of the Indian workforce and contributed 17 per cent to country’s GDP. Two years later, the latter reached 19.9 per cent
2012
FDI in multibrand retail opened; stalled after protests all around