Agriculture in India has a long history dating back to ten thousand years.

Today, India ranks second worldwide in farm output. Agriculture and allied sectors like forestry and logging accounted for 16.6% of the GDP in 2007, employed 52% of the total workforce^[1] and despite a steady decline of its share in the GDP, is still the largest economic aman

and plays a significant role in the overall socio-economic development of India.

India is the largest producer in the world of milk, cashew nuts, coconuts, tea, ginger, turmeric and black pepper.^[2] It also has the world's largest cattle population (281 million).^[3] It is the second largest producer of wheat, rice, sugar, groundnut and inland fish.^[4] It is the third largest producer of tobacco.^[4] India accounts for 10% of the world fruit production with first rank in the production of banana and sapota.^[4]

India's population is growing faster than its ability to produce rice and wheat.^[5]