Context:
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released ‘Statistical Yearbook 2024’
Key Observations:
- Share in Global GDP – Agriculture’s contribution has remained stable at around 4% since 2000.
- Workforce – The global workforce in agriculture has decreased from 40% in 2000 to 26% (892 million) in 2022.
- Employment – Agriculture is the 2nd largest employment sector after services.
- Global Hunger – In 2023, 9.1% of the world’s population was affected by hunger, significantly higher than the pre-COVID-19 level of 7.5%.
Key Findings about India:
- Cropland Area per Capita – Decreased from 0.16 hectares per capita in 2000 to 0.12 hectares.
- Agriculture’s Share in GDP – Dropped from 27.9% in 2000 to 15.9% in 2022, compared to the global average of 4.3% and China’s 7.7%.
- Employment – India had the largest agricultural workforce in 2022 with 226 million people, followed by China with 170 million.
- Share of women in agriculture increased from 32.2% in 2000 to 36% in 2022.
- India is the 2nd largest Sugar producer, accounting for 19% of global production, after Brazil.
- India is the largest milk producer, contributing 23% of global production in 2022.
- Organic Farming – 6% of India’s agricultural area was under organic farming in 2022, making it the 2nd largest globally after Australia (46%).
- Irrigation – India has the largest equipped area for irrigation (76 million hectares), followed closely by China (75 million hectares).
Source: Down To Earth
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
1. India has more arable area than China.
2. The proportion of irrigated area is more in India as compared to China.
3. The average productivity per hectare in Indian agriculture is higher than that in China.
How many of the above statements are correct?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
Only Statement 2 is correct: China’s irrigation cover is 41% of cultivated area, and India’s is 48%. Hence, India has high proportion of irrigated area.
