Agriculture constitutes the backbone of Indian economy since it accounts for the agriculture and allied sectors contribute approximately 17.5 % to 18.2% of India’s GDP at current prices, as of the 2023-24 financial year, and about 11 to 12 per cent of its export. Despite progressive industrialization, nearly half of the population of our country still relies on agriculture as its principal source of income. Not only this, the raw materials of a large number of industries also come from agriculture sector. The agro-processing industry in India plays a vital role in the national economic development and potential to meet the local needs as well as export requirements. Agro-based industries represent a critical link between agriculture and industry. They include industries that rely on raw materials derived from plants and animals. These industries not only process and add value to agricultural products but also ensure their distribution and availability to consumers. Agro-based industries are those that depend on agricultural products as their main raw materials. These industries take the output of farms and transform it into products such as food, textiles, biofuels, and other value-added goods. Sustainable development in agriculture is necessary to ensure that the environment economy, and society are all positively impacted. This means utilizing resources efficiently, reducing waste, improving biodiversity, and promoting long-term resilience in food systems.
Dr. Varsha Shinde (Mon,) studied this question.