India, with its vast genetic resource base undoubtedly possesses enormous potential which can propel the country to an elite agri business hub. Indian agriculture enjoys tremendous strengths viz., huge genetic resource base and a fast growing consumer market with a population base of 1,100 million, and yet it requires latest technologies, planting materials, inputs, machinery, processing systems and investments.
Profile of Indian Agriculture
- World's second largest food producers (210 million tonnes).
- World's largest producer of milk, sugarcane and tea.
- Second largest producer of rice, wheat, fruits, and vegetables : India produces 40 million tonnes of fruits and 75 million tonnes of vegetables annually.
India is among the world's largest producers of agriculture commodities. Agriculture output growth saw a sharp increase in the immediate post-green revolution phase during late 1960s largely due to the high yielding varieties and modern agri-inputs. The advances in biotechnology are already changing dynamics of Indian agriculture. India today needs cutting edge technologies, investments in research, infrastructure, inputs, processing and organized retailing.
The global companies with an expertise in these segments, can explore the booming opportunities in Indian Market and reap rich dividends. The green revolution has been followed by the white revolution, yellow revolution, golden revolution and then the blue revolution leading to an increase in the output of food grains, milk, oilseeds, horticulture and fish products. Now it's the time for the second Green Revolution.
UP, India’s most populous state, produces 21% of India's rice, 38% wheat, 41% potato and 48% of sugar. The state is also the largest producer of milk and horticultural commodities and at the same time, it is the largest consumer of agri-inputs, seeds, fertilizers, crop protection materials, farm machinery, food and consumer products.
If UP was to be a country, it would be sixth largest county in the world with a population of approx 200 million people. Uttar Pradesh is described in the words of famous European writer Ruskin Bond, "I had been to other countries - in Europe, Asia and the Middle East - but none of them had provided even half as much variety, or so much to see and experience and remember, as this one State in northern India. You can travel from one end of Australia to the other, but everywhere on that vast continent you will find that people dress in the same way, eat the same kind of food, listen to the same music. This colorless uniformity is apparent in many other countries of the world, both East and West. but Uttar Pradesh is a world in itself. "