Measures of impact of science and technology in India: agriculture and rural development

The report Measures of impact of science and technology in India: agriculture and rural development explores the impact of public research on the agriculture and rural sector in India.

The report argues that if technology is going to reduce poverty and hunger, it must be based on the principle of social inclusion. The report highlights the impact of agriculture research in India derived from public funds. Key achievements include:

• foodgrain production increased from about 45 million tonnes in 1951–52 to over 200 million tonnes at the beginning of this century
• productivity of major cereals increased from 700 kg per hectare in 1961–62 to over 1700 kg per hectare by 2001–02
• groundwater irrigation has played the lead role in bringing more area under irrigation, thanks to technological advances
• science and technology coupled with social engineering have helped to promote conservation, restoration and commercial forestry and the regeneration of coastal mangrove wetlands
• significant progress has been made in the development of affordable drugs for the control of malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy, cholera and other diseases
• rural drinking water supply has been made nearly universal through the design of simple water pumps and the application of remote sensing and hard rock drilling techniques
• rural energy systems have gained enormously from scientific work related to the harnessing of biogas, biomass, solar and wind and other forms of renewable energy

The report concludes that the progress in production with regard to crops, milk, eggs and fish, improvement in health status, and growth in access to electric power and drinking water for India’s rural population over the post-Independence period is the result of the proactive role played by the state in promoting research and development. This research has contributed the technologies crucial for a breakthrough in production and promotion of people’s access to basic facilities. Full text of document / Publisher details