Biography:

Dr Amitava Rakshit , an IIT, Kharagpur (World rank: 401-500, Asia-Pacific rank: 66-93) alumnus is the faculty member in the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry at Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP, India. His research areas include: Nutrient use efficiency, Simulations modeling, organic farming, Integrated Nutrient Management and bioremediation. His consulting capabilities are: Composting Techniques, Soil Health Management, Input quality Control. He was involved in "Participatory Research" and "Lab to Land" Programmes of ICAR; Dept. of Agricultural Cooperation, Govt. of India; Department of Agriculture, Government of West Bengal ;NHB, New Delhi and NHM for on farm demonstrations of agro-technologies in cerals/pulses/oilseeds/Cash crops/vegetables/Fruits. Actively involved in imparting training and dissemination of technical knowledge and information to diversified end users. He has supervised approximately five research projects, many in partnership with industry. He is widely acknowledged for his skills in linking research with the broader community in regional languages. He has been working closely with undergraduate and post-graduate students in BHU presently. He has visited Norway, Finland, Denmark, France, Austria, Russia, Thailand, Egypt, Turkey number of occasions pertaining to his research work and presentation. Dr.Rakshit has previously worked at the Department of Agriculture, Government of West Bengal in research extension and implementation roles. He was awarded the Biovision Nxt Fellow by Biovision, Lyon, France for the year 2008-09. He is the author of two books. He also published numerous articles/reviews in professional journals.

Abstract:

From evolution to revolution in agriculture - the Indian story

Agriculture in India has a long history dating back to ten thousand years. Indian agriculture began by 9000 BCE as a result of early cultivation of plants, and domestication of crops and animals. Settled life soon followed with implements and techniques being developed for agriculture. Today, India ranks second worldwide in farm output. Agriculture and allied sectors like forestry, logging and fishing accounted for 16.6% of the GDP in 2007, employed 60% of the total workforce and despite a steady decline of its share in the GDP, is still the largest economic sector and plays a significant role in the overall socio-economic development of India.In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, agricultural growth in the region was slow compared to the rates achieved in the past thirty years. It is undoubtedly a great Indian success story. But its unspoken mission may have been to give us a fresh breath with which to codify Indian farmers' traditional wisdom. Today technologies and Indian technologists are available as was not the case in the sixties to compile 'best practices' and disseminate them widely. It is in the nature of revolutions that they are never 'final solutions' but place-holders till the next one comes along. Finally, aagricultural development in the recent past has been characterized by an extraordinary diversity both within and between the different agro ecological regions. Many largely traditional farming systems that were sustainable with a low density of population are becoming increasingly strained by, and vulnerable to, the pressure of rising population. Spectacular environmental damage exemplifies the consequences of this pressure as land-hungry cultivators push into the tropical forests and up the hillsides. A growing prosperity among some groups contrasts with the deepening poverty among others less fortunate.