Importance of Farmers

The importance of farmers is as given below:

Contribution to GDP

Farmers play a significant role in contributing to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of India. Agriculture contributes about 14% to India’s GDP. This share was as high as 51% in 1950–55. But it is gradually decreasing with the progress and development of the country. 

Since independence, the agriculture sector has been a major contributor to the country’s gross domestic product. In the fiscal year 1950–1951, agriculture and other related activities accounted for 59% of the country’s total GDP in that fiscal year. Although the agriculture sector has been steadily declining, it is still one of the most important sectors in the Indian economy. On the other hand, in developed countries like UK and USA, the agriculture sector contributes only about 3% of the total GDP of the country.

Attention to Growing Population

The farmer provides food for the country’s 1.25 billion population, Agriculture is the only option for arranging food for this population. Therefore, for the supply of food grains to this population of the country, it can be completed only by growing intensive agricultural practices, climate and soil-friendly crops and their species. This problem can be solved by growing different types of crops like paddy, wheat, maize, Jowar, pulses, oilseeds, etc.

Source of National Income

Along with the increase in the income of the farmers through crop production, various taxes related to agricultural production such as revenue tax, irrigation tax, production tax, etc. generate income for the state and central government. Apart from this, the nation receives a large amount of foreign exchange from the export of some crops such as tobacco, jute, tea, sugar, coffee, etc. to foreign countries. The maximum share of India’s income is obtained from agriculture and its related business only.

Raw Material Supply

The major industries of India get the raw material from agriculture only. Cotton, jute, textile industry, sugar, vegetable and plantation industries, etc. are directly dependent on agriculture. Many small and cottage industries like handloom, weaving, oil extraction, rice pounding, etc. also get the raw materials from someone.

Main source of livelihood

About 72.8% of the total population of our country still lives in the village itself and earns its livelihood directly or indirectly from agriculture or its related agriculture industry for its sustenance. In the year 1950-51, India’s About 69.5% of the working population was engaged in agriculture and allied sectors.

India is a country of farmers. About 70 to 80 percent of the population is still directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture, That is why a great country like India is known as an agricultural country in the world. 

Farmer is an important part of our life, Indian farmer fulfills the basic needs of 125 crore people in the country. Farmers are most important in terms of the development of the nation. Farmers are the backbone of our country and society, on whose strength our economy stands.