Smart Agricultural Marketing for Livelihood Security- Prospects and Opportunities

Abstract

Agriculture remains as the main stray of Indian economy feeding more than one third of its population. The agriculture sector in India is by far the largest employer among all three major sectors, employing over 55 per cent of the available workforce, but at the same time agriculture is the smallest sectoral component in the country' national GDP showing a declining trend in contributing to national GDP i.e. 51.9 per cent (1950-51) to 13.7 per cent (2012-13). The export value of India's agricultural, horticultural and floricultural products, animal products and processed food products was surged from 29.8 billion US Dollars (2011-12) to 33.54 billion US Dollars (2012-13) with 13 per cent increase over the preceding year. According to APEDA's projected figure, India's agri-export turn over is expected to be doubled in the next five years, to reach 18 billion US Dollars. At present, around 70 per cent of the country's agricultural and processed foods are exported to developing countries in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and South America.