HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE,
GLOBAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SYSTEMS NEED SCOPE AND OPPORTUNITIES ROLE TO PROMOTE FOOD SECURITY,
REDUCING POVERTY AND PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
The history of agriculture is the story of how humans transformed wild plants and animals into domesticated ones for their benefit. Agriculture began independently in different parts of the world and involved diverse species. The development of agriculture about 12,000 years ago changed the way humans lived, as they switched from nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyles to permanent settlements and farming
Some of the earliest crops that were domesticated include wheat, barley, peas, lentils, chickpeas, and flax in the Levant; rice, soybeans, and azuki beans in China; potatoes, tomatoes, peanuts, and coca in South America; sorghum, millet, yams, and cowpeas in Africa; and teff and coffee in Ethiopia1. Some of the earliest animals that were domesticated include pigs, sheep, cattle, and camels in Mesopotamia and Turkey; llamas, alpacas, and guinea pigs in South America; and sanga cattle in North-East Africa
Agriculture has evolved over time with new technologies, techniques, and practices. Some of the significant milestones in agricultural history include the British agricultural revolution in the 18th century, which introduced crop rotation, selective breeding, and mechanization; the Green Revolution in the 20th century, which increased crop yields through the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation, and high-yielding varieties; and the biotechnology revolution in the 21st century, which introduced genetically modified crops, precision agriculture, and vertical farming
The history of agriculture in India dates back to the Neolithic age, some 9000 years ago, when the early cultivation of plants and domestication of crops and animals began in the northwestern part of the subcontinent. Wheat, barley, and jujube were some of the first crops that were grown by ancient farmers.
Over time, Indian agriculture diversified and expanded to include rice, millet, pulses, cotton, sugarcane, spices, fruits, vegetables, and livestock. Indian agriculture also developed various techniques and practices such as irrigation, crop rotation, fertilization, pest control, seed selection, and storage. Indian agriculture was influenced by various factors such as geography, climate, culture, religion, trade, and politics.
Indian agriculture underwent significant changes after independence in 1947. The government introduced various reforms and policies to improve agricultural productivity, such as land reforms, cooperative movements, agricultural research and extension, subsidies, credit facilities, minimum support prices, public distribution system, green revolution, white revolution, blue revolution, and biotechnology revolution. These initiatives helped India achieve food security, self-sufficiency, and export surplus in many agricultural commodities
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