10Growth story of India before and after independence
target of 4 per cent, 10-11 per cent and 9-11 per cent respectively. The Twelfth Plan targets
growth rates of 4 per cent for agriculture, 7.6 per cent for industry and 9.0 per cent for
services, thereby aiming at 8 per cent growth in overall GDP
The growth rates for three sectors, namely, Agriculture, Industry and Services, were at 4.6
percent, 0.7 per cent and 6.9 percent respectively, during 2013-14 (i.e. the second year of
Twelfth Plan)
Growth performance of Agriculture Sector after independence
Agriculture, as a sector, has been playing a decisive role in shaping the overall growth
trajectories of the Indian economy since Independence. As is well-known, in the overall
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country, the contribution of the primary sector (which
comprises agriculture, forestry and fishing, and mining and quarrying) has come down
substantially over the years, and, it accounts for 13.7 percent as of 2012-13. During 1950-51,
the primary sector was contributing 51.9 percent of the country’s GDP (at factor cost and at
2004-05 constant prices), which declined to 29.5 percent by 1990-91 and has shrunk further
to 13.7 percent by 2012-13.
Further, the share of ‘agriculture’ alone (within the primary sector) was recorded at a low of
11.6 percent in 2012-13, from a much higher share (in GDP) of 41.8 percent during 1950-51.
Much of this decline in percentage share of agriculture sector in the overall GDP of the
economy seems to have been due to the increasing contributions of other sectors, viz.
industry and services sectors, during the said period. Such a trajectory of economic
transformation, as witnessed in India, has been commonly observed across the world.
However, in spite of this decline in its share in the country’s GDP, half of India’s population
is still dependent on agriculture as the major source of their livelihood. Moreover, as a source
of raw materials for a number of sectors and its share in the country’s total exports, the
linkages of agriculture with overall economic growth and well-being are well established.
The Agriculture and Allied Sector is estimated to contribute approximately 13.9% of India’s
GDP (at constant 2004-05 prices) during 2011-12 as per advance estimate released by CSO
on 07.02.2012.
GDP of Agriculture and Allied Sectors and its share in the total GDP of the country during
the last 4 years, including current year, at 2004-05 prices, is as follows:
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