Impact Of Agro Based Industries In Socio Economic Change Of Rural Area In Solapur District

Abstract

Agriculture is the backbone of Indian Economy. About 65% of Indian population newlinedepends directly on agriculture and it accounts for around 22% of GDP. Agriculture derives newlineits importance from the fact that it has vital supply and demand links with the manufacturing newlinesector. During the past five years agriculture sector has witnessed spectacular advances in the newlineproduction and productivity of food grains, oilseeds, commercial crops, fruits, vegetables, newlinefood grains, poultry and dairy. India has emerged as the second largest producer of fruits and newlinevegetables in the world in addition to being the largest overseas exporter of cashews and newlinespices. Further, India is the highest producer of milk in the world. newlineThe rural economy, particularly agriculture, will be greatly benefit if programmes newlinemeant for economically backward sections, including the Integrated Child Development newlineSchemes, mid-day meals for school children and the National Rural Employment Guarantee newlineScheme, are effectively implemented. Food security of the poor will be ensured if the public newlinedistribution system is efficiently run. All these programmes will increase the purchasing newlinepower of the rural people and indirectly help agriculture itself. newlineFarmers, agricultural laborers and people s organisations in civil society should work newlinecollectively to assist and persuade the government to make the necessary changes. It is high newlinetime that the government and the people realised that India can become a real superpower newlineonly when the vast majority of the people, especially the farmers in the rural areas, become newlineprosperous and are really empowered. The words of Dr M.S. Swaminathan are relevant here: newline In a country where 60 per cent of people depend on agriculture for their livelihood, it is newlinebetter to become an agricultural force based on food security rather than a nuclear force. newlineAgricultural sector does not exist in isolation, but closely linked back to natural newlineresource such as water, soil, seeds and biodiversity.