Towards sustainable agriculture in India

Sustainable agriculture is a complex concept that aims at 1. meeting the desired production of food, feed, fibre and fuel, 2. economic agricultural production, 3. conservation of natural resources, 4. protecting the environment, 5. gender equity and 6. avoiding regional imbalances. In India the focus has been mainly on the first issue, namely producing enough food and fibre to meet the demands of ever increasing population, which after independence has increased nearly threefold. Deterioration of soil fertility and depiction of country's water resources has just received attention and appropriate ameliorative measures are yet to be taken. Other issues, namely gender equity and growing regional imbalances have yet to be addressed. Economics of Indian agriculture is facing the problem of global market and it is hoped that it survives. Thus sincere efforts are needed to make India's agriculture sustainable.