Your penfriend, who lives in Australia, has read that India is an agricultural country. He wants to know the details about the nature of agriculture practised in India and the problems faced by the farmers. Write to your friend replying to his queries.

Agriculture plays a significant role in the Indian economy. The agriculture practiced here is diverse, including both subsistence farming, where crops are grown for personal consumption, and cash crop cultivation, which involves growing crops like cotton, sugarcane, tea, coffee, and spices for commercial purposes.

India underwent a Green Revolution in the 1960s and 1970s, which introduced high-yielding crop varieties, modern farming techniques, and increased use of fertilizers and irrigation. This revolution significantly improved agricultural productivity and helped the country achieve self-sufficiency in food production.

Indian farmers encounter several challenges, which impact their livelihoods and agricultural practices. These challenges include:

1. Fragmented Land Holdings — Land holdings in India are often small and fragmented, which makes it challenging for farmers to adopt modern farming techniques and achieve economies of scale.
2. Dependence on Monsoons — Agriculture in India heavily relies on monsoon rains for irrigation. Inadequate or irregular rainfall can lead to droughts, crop failure, and financial distress for farmers.
3. Lack of Access to Credit — Many farmers struggle to access formal credit, forcing them to rely on informal moneylenders who charge high interest rates. This perpetuates a cycle of debt and financial vulnerability.
4. Inadequate Infrastructure — Insufficient rural infrastructure, such as storage facilities, transportation networks, and market linkages, hampers farmers' ability to store, transport, and sell their produce efficiently.
5. Climate Change Impact — Indian farmers are increasingly facing the impacts of climate change, such as erratic weather patterns, changing rainfall patterns, and increased instances of pests and diseases.
6. Old and Inefficient Techniques — Most of the farmers in India use old and inefficient techniques of farming. Mechanisation is limited. Farmers continue to use traditional methods of irrigation.