It embodies relevant information about natural environment of agricultural relevance, the developed water resources, the cultural constraints and adoption of farm technology as influencing agricultural land use, cropping pattern, intensity of cropping and agricultural productivity and finally the levels of agricultural development. Presuming vital significance of agricultural development for rural development following points have been particularly emphasized. • To analyse spatial variation in levels of agricultrural development in the context of physio-socio-economic environment. • Critical analysis of the spatial and temporal changes in agricultural efficiency in the post-Independence period. • Evaluation of the changes in area and yield of crops so as to explain the trend of efficiency. • Evaluation of the relationships of use of important yield-raising inputs with the agricultural productivity on one hand and with the socio-economic conditions on the other. This book will be useful for agricultural scientists, economists, social scientists, irrigation engineers, administrators and agricultural planners along with geographers.

This open access book provides an evidence-based roadmap for revitalising Indian agriculture while ensuring that the growth process is efficient, inclusive, and sustainable, and results in sustained growth of farmers’ incomes. The book, instead of looking for global best practices and evaluating them to assess the possibility of replicating these domestically, looks inward at the best practices and experiences within Indian states, to answer questions such as -- how the agricultural growth process can be speeded up and made more inclusive, and financially viable; are there any best practices that can be studied and replicated to bring about faster growth in agriculture; does the prior hypothesis that rapid agricultural growth can alleviate poverty faster, reduce malnutrition, and augment farmers’ incomes stand? To answer these questions, the book follows four broad threads -- i) Linkage between agricultural performance, poverty and malnutrition; ii) Analysing the historical growth performance of agricultural sector in selected Indian states; iii) Will higher agricultural GDP necessarily result in higher incomes for farmers; iv) Analysing the current agricultural policy environment to evaluate its efficiency and efficacy, and consolidate all analysis to create a roadmap. These are discussed in 12 chapters, which provide a building block for the concluding chapter that presents a roadmap for revitalising Indian agriculture while ensuring growth in farmers’ incomes.

Interrelationship between spatial structure and scenario of development is the focal theme of this volume. Attributes of the environment, man, his culture and society and their interaction shape the spatial structure which ultimately determine the pace of development. Unless transferential approach of resource exploitation is not changed to transformational one it is difficult to reduce the glaring disparity in development. Transformational approach is people oriented and nature oriented development concept, in which social justice, welfare, quality of life and environmental protection are kept at par with the economic growth.

Present the process, trend and consequences of modernization of agriculture in M.P., the biggest state of the country. Since the primary objective of farming has been to ensure food supply and agricultural raw materials, it is pertinent to examine critically the spatial pattern of modernization and its impact on agricultural productivity and position of food availability and actual food intake in perspective of physio-cultural environment. Findings of this spatio-temporal study will help in identifying the problematic regions still awaiting special efforts for agricultural development through the application of modern methods and techniques.

Salient Features - The book examines the changing agricultural scenario and its impact on the food and nutritional situation during last fifty years in India. - It presents an analysis of changing agricultural land-use pattern, expansion and intensification in agriculture, agricultural development and increasing use of inputs, trends in food production, food availability and consumption and nutritional analysis in Madhya Pradesh. - The level of food and nutrition among the tribals of Madhya Pradesh has been analysed in details. - The food and nutritional analysis is based on the food balance sheet method and consumer survey method. - It presents a comparative analysis of recent food situation in the country and in the state of Madhya Pradesh as well. - The book will be useful to agricultural scientists, economists, social scientists, administrators alongwith the geographers, particularly who are engaged in the field of food and nutrition.

Agriculture, being the largest sector, forms the backbone of the Indian economy. It has been a widely accepted view that the economic growth of less developed countries depend heavily upon improving the performance of the agricultural sector. Speedy agricultural development helps the process of economic growth in backward areas in many respects.