Impact of Agricultural Modernization on Sustainable Livelihood
Authors: MAYUR M. PRAJAPATI, JITENDRA SHARMA, DINESH KUMAR

The hungry world cannot be fed until and unless the growth of its resources and the growth of its population come into balance. Each man and women-and each nation- must make decisions of conscience and policy in the face of this great problem.- Lyndon B. Johnson.

We have to exploit our high potential and competitiveness such as diversifying our farming, growing export-oriented basmati rice, medicinal herbs, fruits, vegetables etc, as we feel comfortable with regard to meeting our food requirements as we have enough and more buffer stock. The production growth of this sector has been steadily increasing over the years due to which we have reached to 210 million tones food grain, 20 million tones oilseeds, World’s 13% vegetable output, 82 million tones milk etc. Landmarks, The price index of agricultural commodities also increased from 116.9 during 1994-95 to 169.9 among 2001-02, whereas the corresponding figures for manufacturing products respectively are 112.3 and 144.4.(Khan et.al.(2003)) Effective linkages of production system with agro-processing and export market would play an important role in diversification of agriculture.

Agricultural modernization means from traditional agriculture to modem agriculture transformation process and means. In this process, the agriculture with modern industry, increasing in modern science and technology and modern economy management method, make up the agricultural productivity by backward traditional agriculture increasingly into contemporary world advanced level of agriculture. Realizing this transformation of agriculture is called agricultural modernization of agriculture. Livelihood comprises the capabilities, assets (including both material and social resources) and activities required for a means of living: a livelihood is sustainable which can cope with and recover from stress and shocks and maintain or enhance its capabilities and assets both now and in the future (Carney, 1998:4), or... while not undermining the natural base (Scoones, 1998:5), including both these last statements (Farrington et al,1999:1).

Agriculture is one of the mega and crucial sector in the Indian economy, which contributes about 27% to the GDP. After the advent of WTO and export opportunities, we have changed our traditional agriculture to modern agriculture transformation process and means. Due to this, the change is occurred into the basic human needs describes sustainable livelihood as an integrating concept. The farmers had suggested to give more subsidies on inputs to provide lift irrigation on community basis and sufficient finance for crop loan and to arrange for easy availability of inputs, technical guidance and training for new agricultural technology for improving agricultural modernization & their sustainable livelihood.

References:

Carney, D. (1998) Sustainable rural livelihoods. What contribution can we make? Papers presented at the DFID Natural Resources Advisers Conference, July 1998. DFID, London.
DFID (1999) Sustainable livelihood guidance sheets. Available August 2001. http://www.livelihoods.org/info/info_guidanceSheets.html
Farrington. J., Carney, D., Ashley, C. and Turton, C. (1999). Sustainable livelihoods in practice: early applications of concepts in rural areas. ODI Natural Resource Perspectives No. 42.
Khan, M.A., M.L.Sharma and J.D.Sarkar (2003). “Consequences of Agricultural Diversification on Food Security and Socio-economic Status of Farming Community.” International Conference Agricultural Policies and Strategies for Profitable Farming: Field Realities, Needed Reforms and Interventions. Abstract: ICAR, New Delhi and College of Agriculture, G.A,U., Anand, Gujarat P.P.39-40.
Scoones (1998). Sustainable Rural Livelihoods: A framework for Analysis, IDS Working paper 72, Institute of Development Studies.



About Author / Additional Info:
Completed Ph.D. Agriculture in the discipline of Extension Education from Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Dist. Banaskantha, Gujarat.