Department of Agriculture Maharashtra

The need to grow more food was felt during the 19th Century because of the increasing pressure on the population. According to the recommendation of the Famine Commission(1881), the Agriculture Department was established in 1883. Work started with the aim of helping the rural community to achieve higher productivity in agriculture. Agriculture and Land Records Departments were functioning together till 1907. After getting encouraging results in an effort made during 1915-16 to stop soil loss, Mr. Kitting, the then Agriculture Director started soil conservation work in 1922.

The Agriculture Department took up various land development activities with the enactment in 1942 and subsequent enforcement of the Land Development Act in 1943. For the first time in 1943, the then Government prepared a comprehensive Agriculture Policy considering the problems in agriculture and allied sectors. According to this policy, emphasis was given to the use of water as irrigation for agricultural crops.

The post-independence period from 1950 to 1965 is recognized as the Green Revolution period. During this period several schemes were launched to boost the growth of the agriculture sector. Production of quality seeds through Taluka Seed Farms started in 1957. Emphasis was given to the increase in irrigated areas along with cultivated areas during this period. A special campaign was launched in 1961-62 to encourage the use of chemical fertilizers.

The development of hybrid varieties of different crops since 1965-66 laid down the foundation of the Green Revolution. Five-year plans following this period especially emphasized the development of agriculture. Nala bunding work was taken up along with land development work by the department since 1974 which led to an increase in well and groundwater levels. The introduction of intensive agriculture, comprising of large-scale use of improved seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and available water helped increase agriculture production. Later on, considering the need for providing guidance to the farmers for proper and judicious use of these inputs, the Training and Visit Scheme was launched in 1981-82. The valuable contribution of this scheme through effective implementation of programs like Crop Demonstrations, Field Visits, Corner meetings, Workshops, Fairs, Exhibitions, etc. aimed at the transfer of technology from Agriculture Universities to farmers’ fields was evident from the increased agricultural production.

Though we have become self-sufficient in food grain production in spite of the tremendous increase in population, self-sufficiency in agriculture is not the only aim of the state but assurance of more and more net income to the farmers through the efficient and sustainable use of available resources is more important. To achieve this, commercial agriculture should be practiced. Different schemes are implemented to increase agricultural production, and export promotion and to encourage the agro-processing industry with a view to take advantage of a liberalized economy and Global trade. Thus, the agriculture department is firmly stepping towards economic progress along with self-sufficiency through agriculture and achieving an important position in the global agriculture produce market. The innovative horticulture plantation scheme under the employment guarantee scheme implemented by the state is a part of this policy.

The agriculture department considers the farmer as the focal point and the whole department is organized in such a fashion that a single mechanism is working to facilitate the farmer’s adoption of advanced technology and sustainable use of available resources. Every agriculture assistant working at the village level has a jurisdiction of three to four villages with the number of farmers limited to 800 to 900 which facilitates more interaction for easier transfer of technology.

Agriculture Assistant at the village level undertakes soil conservation work, horticulture plantation, and various extension schemes. He is supervised by the Circle Agriculture Officer at the circle level. Administrative control, liaison with other departments, monitoring and training programs, etc. are facilitated by the Taluka Agriculture Officer at the taluka level, Sub Divisional Agriculture Officer at the subdivision level, District Superintending Agriculture Officer at the district level, and Divisional Joint Director at the division level. In addition, the Agriculture Officer at the Panchayat Samiti level, working under the Agriculture Development Officer, Zilla Parishad at the district level also implements various agro-inputs-related schemes.

All the schemes implemented in the field are supervised technically and administratively by respective directorates of Soil Conservation, Horticulture, Extension and Training, Inputs, and Quality Control, Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Planning and Budget at the state level in the Commissionerate of Agriculture. Also, separate sections are there for the Establishment and Accounts-related matters.