The practice of agriculture in general is considered as the oldest form of economics. In the Eastern part of the world, the practice of agriculture can be dated back to Indus Valley civilisation, and the cultivation was primarily food grains and crops, which were the main source of the economic activities until the influence of Western culture.
The advent of Western culture into India meant the foray of commercial crops. Many began to cultivate the commercial crops as they gave good yield and due to the force by the foreign colonial powers. We see that the introduction of many crops like indigo, coco, coffee among others led to the commercialisation of the crops in India. However, the current situation is such that it looks like the introduction of the commercial crops over the food crops have indirectly led to the scarcity of the food grains.
It is now in the present times, we are realising that many of the commercial crops are not edible without undergoing a huge process. We see that many agricultural families have moved from cultivation of food crops to commercial crops. This has led to decrease in overall production of food crops, resulting in scarcity of food grains. However, we cannot blame the farmers for the conversion of the crops because where there is huge benefit for the farmers that is where they would have to invest. It is the responsibility of the departments concerned under the Government now to give the farmers a good price for the crops as they will get the assurance that the food crops are doing well too and may shift back to cultivating food crops.
Also amid this is rampant modernisation that is occurring with scant regard to the importance the agricultural activities possess as the modernisation is claiming farm lands. In this scenario it is not only the responsibility of the Government to support farming activities but also people, who keep their interest intact as far as farming activities are concerned. Of course, for getting back to food crop cultivation and sustaining in agriculture, Government support is the key.
