Development of Agriculture in INDIA

When India became independent in 1947, the agricultural productivity was very low (about 50 million tonnes). The agriculture was mainly rained and was being done as a subsistence farming using mainly animate sources of farm power and traditional tools and equipment’s. More than 80% of the population living in rural areas was dependent on agriculture for their livelihood.

The Royal Commission on Agriculture in its report in 1928 had laid stress on harnessing science to develop and spread new agricultural technologies for the irrigated, arid and semi-arid areas. However, the quantum of efforts generated in agricultural engineering research and education till 1947 was microscopic in relation to the magnitude and diversity of the problems awaiting solutions.

The manpower for agricultural engineering research in the ICAR system was inadequate, both, qualitatively and quantitatively for facing successfully the numerous problems of developing equipment and technologies for mechanization of agriculture for maximizing efficiency of costly inputs like seeds, fertilizers, irrigation water, plant protection chemicals, and energy sources to increase higher production and productivity, reduction of drudgery; post-harvest technology and value addition, water, Plant Protection chemicals, and energy sources to increase higher production and productivity, reduction of drudgery; post-harvest technology and value addition, waste utilization, and generating income and employment in rural areas.  Research in agricultural engineering related to farm implements and machinery began at the Allahabad Agricultural Institute, Naini in 1921 with Prof. Mason Vaugh as the Research Engineer. During 1930 agricultural engineering research was started at the then Agricultural College and Research Institute, Coimbatore, with Mr. Charley, a Britisher, as the first research engineer.