ROLE OF AGRICULTURE IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
In other words, where per capita real income is low, emphasis is being laid on agriculture and other primary industries.
“Increase in agricultural production and the rise in the per-capita income of the rural community, together with the industrialisation and urbanisation, lead to an increased demand in industrial production”-Dr. Bright Singh.
The history of England is clear evidence that Agricultural Revolution preceded the Industrial Revolution there. In U.S.A. and Japan, also agricultural development has helped to a greater extent in the process of their industrialisation. Similarly, various under-developed countries of the world engaged in the process of economic development have by now learnt the limitations of putting over-emphasis on industrialisation as a means to attain higher per capita real income. “Thus industrial and agricultural developments are not alternatives but are complementary and are mutually supporting with respect to both inputs and outputs.”
It is seen that increased agricultural output and productivity tend to contribute substantially to an overall economic development of the country, it will be rational and appropriate to place greater emphasis on further development of the agricultural sector.
According to Prof. Kinderberger, Todaro, Lewis and Nurkse etc., agriculture makes its contribution to economic development in several ways, viz.,:
ADVERTISEMENTS:
(1) By providing food and raw material to non-agricultural sectors of the economy,
(2) By creating demand for goods produced in non-agricultural sectors, by the rural people on the strength of the purchasing power, earned by them on selling the marketable surplus,
(3) By providing investable surplus in the form of savings and taxes to be invested in non-agricultural sector,
(4) By earning valuable foreign exchange through the export of agricultural products,
(5) Providing employment to a vast army of uneducated, backward and unskilled labour. As a matter of fact, if the process of economic development is to be initiated and made self-sustaining, it must begin for agricultural sector.
Role of Agriculture in Economic Development:
The agriculture sector is the backbone of an economy which provides the basic ingredients to mankind and now raw material for industrialisation.