Being in the 21st century and looking back at the five decades since Independence, the agricultural scenario in the country seems to be one of quiet satisfaction and optimism. Changes in agrarian relations: The feudal order inherited from the colonial administration of Independence was stifling the growth of agriculture. The stratification of rural society into different strata of tenants, subtenants and landowners almost completely alienated the cultivator from the land. There was almost no incentive to invest in land and increase productivity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Land reforms to abolish the old order and empower those who cultivate the land were initiated by several states in the early 1950s through land reform legislation. Multiple land tenures were replaced by a uniform, simplified system under which nearly all cultivators were granted property rights. The abolition of the Seminary was an important step towards a more equitable agrarian structure, which encouraged investment in land and therefore led to productivity gains. Another important step in land reform was the consolidation of fragmented land holdings through the legislation of various states. Consolidation was one of the most successful programs for agricultural growth, which increased private investment in the hinterland and improved production. The imposition of caps on land ownership laws in the 1960s, which capped the ownership of different categories of land and ensured the redistribution of excess land to the rural landless, was a further step towards a more equitable agrarian order. The land reforms of the 1970s included land redistribution. leasing of surplus common village lands to the poor and landless in rural areas, especially to scheduled castes and tribes. Recent improvements include renting land jointly by husband and wife, unlike the old system consisting only of male members. Green Revolution: The thrust of agricultural growth in the country can be observed in three distinct phases with the Green Revolution as the watershed. The phase preceding the Green Revolution was characterized by production gains achieved largely through area expansion. The Green Revolution, characterized by productivity gains through the use of high-yield technologies and modern inputs, has been the primary instrument behind India's impressive gains in foodgrain production. Towards diversification: The third stage of agricultural growth comes from the diversification and commercialization of agriculture. Remember: this is just one example. Request a custom paper from our expert writers now. Request a custom essay In response to the expansion of the rural middle class and urban, as well as growing opportunities for international trade, farmers are diversifying into high-value crops, horticulture, floriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries and sericulture. Commendable progress has been made in the field of dairy products, oilseeds, sugarcane and cotton. With 69 million tonnes, India is one of the largest milk producers in the world. Milk production has quadrupled from 17 million at the time of independence to 69 million tonnes today (popularly known as the White Revolution). Fish production has increased from 7.5 million to almost 50 million tons during the last fifty years (Blue Revolution). Oilseed production increased fivefold, from 5 to 25 million tons,.