Small farming in central India

Farming is the first known-and-practised profession of human species on earth. Tilling of soil and raising of crops became the first revolution of mankind in recorded history. In the modern age agriculture supplies raw material such as cotton, jute, sugarcane, etc. and ensures food grains and horticultural crops to a number of agrobased industries.

Major partners of agricultural production in Indian economy are none other than the small farmers. They constitute the biggest ever class of people engaged in a particular operation throughout India in rural areas. A study of Madhya Pradesh economy with particular reference to its less-privileged farming community will help understand better the conditions of its counterpart prevailing in the neighbouring states too.

The general scenario of agricultural development with special emphasis on the relative strength and weakness of this state vis-a-vis others in India has been portrayed and analysed in the opening chapter. The next chapter brings forth the circumstances that necessitate the adoption of a package deal for a better result. Other chapters deal with the need to advocate small family norms, develop land scapes, improve irrigation systems and cropping pattern, utilise bio-gas technology and analyse the merits and demerits of the present credit inistitutions in which a bold departure from the current thinking and approach of the planners and administrators has been suggested. The work concludes with the presentation of some important criteria in the economics of small farming.