Evolution and History of Agriculture
1. Evolution of Man and Agriculture
70 Million years ago: Earliest primates/prosimians developed in trees.
40 Million years ago: Evolution of Monkeys and Apes.
1.5 Million years ago: First true man (Homo erectus) emerged in Indonesia and Africa.
1 Million years ago: Homo erectus migrated through the Old World tropics.
0.8 Million years ago: Homo erectus populated temperate regions.
0.5 Million years ago: Homo erectus pekinensis (Peking Man) learnt the use and control of Fire.
32,000 years ago: Cro-Magnon man (Homo sapiens sapiens) emerged in Europe.
10,000 B.C.: Domestication of Dog (First animal domesticated) for hunting (in Iraq & Israel).
2. Timeline of Domestication and Cultivation
The following table lists significant events in the development of agriculture:
Year (Approx.) | Event / Crop Domesticated |
8700 B.C. | Domestication of Sheep (First domesticated ruminant). |
7700 B.C. | Domestication of Goat. |
7500 B.C. | Cultivation of crops: Wheat and Barley. |
6000 B.C. | Domestication of Cattle and Pigs. |
4400 B.C. | Cultivation of Maize. |
3500 B.C. | Cultivation of Potato. |
3400 B.C. | Invention of the Wheel. |
3000 B.C. | Bronze was used to make tools. |
2900 B.C. | Invention of the Plough; Irrigated farming started. |
2700 B.C. | Silk Moth domestication in China. |
2300 B.C. | Cultivation of Chickpea, Pear, Sarson (Mustard), and Cotton. |
2200 B.C. | Domestication of Fowl, Buffalo, and Elephant; Cultivation of Rice. |
1800 B.C. | Cultivation of Finger Millet (Ragi). |
1725 B.C. | Cultivation of Sorghum (Jowar). |
1500 B.C. | Cultivation of Sugarcane; Irrigation through wells started. |
1400 B.C. | Use of Iron in the Middle East. |
3. Ancient & Medieval History
1000–600 B.C.: Age of Iron; Iron plough share and axe invented. Crop cultivation expanded in Punjab, UP, and Bihar.
15th Century A.D.: Cultivation of Sweet Orange, Sour Orange, Wild Brinjal, and Pomegranate.
16th Century A.D. (Portuguese Era): Introduction of several crops into India by the Portuguese:
Potato, Sweet Potato, Tomato, Chillies.
Pumpkin, Papaya, Pineapple, Guava, Custard Apple.
Groundnut, Cashewnut, Tobacco, American Cotton, Rubber.
Development of Modern Agriculture in India
Important Historical Milestones
Year | Event / Establishment |
1871 | Joint Department of Revenue, Agriculture and Commerce established (Lord Mayo). |
1881 | Separate Department of Agriculture established (on recommendation of Famine Commission 1880). |
1899-1900 | Severe Famine (Chhappania Akal) in India. |
1901 | Appointment of first Inspector General of Agriculture (USA). |
1901 | First Irrigation Commission appointed (Lord Curzon). |
1903 | Model Village Scheme (Rural Reconstruction) launched by Daniel Hamilton. |
1905 | Establishment of IARI (Imperial Agricultural Research Institute) at Pusa, Bihar (Lord Curzon). |
1934 | Severe Earthquake damaged IARI building at Pusa. |
1936 | IARI shifted to New Delhi. |
1926 | Royal Commission on Agriculture (RCA) appointed under Lord Linlithgow. |
1928 | RCA submitted its report. |
1929 (16 July) | Establishment of ICAR (Imperial Council of Agricultural Research) based on RCA recommendations. |
1946 | Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (DPPQS) established at Faridabad. |
1960 | First Agricultural University in India: GBPUAT, Pantnagar (Uttarakhand). |
1965 | First DG (Director General) of ICAR appointed: Dr. B.P. Pal. |
1966-67 | Green Revolution started in India. |
1973 | Establishment of ARS (Agricultural Research Service) and ASRB. |
1974 | First KVK (Krishi Vigyan Kendra) established at Puducherry (under TNAU, Coimbatore). |
2004 | National Commission on Farmers constituted (Chairman: Dr. M.S. Swaminathan). |
General Agriculture Statistics & Facts
Classification of ICAR Institutes
(List of Deemed Universities and Important Institutes)
IARI: Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi.
IVRI: Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, UP.
NDRI: National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana.
CIFE: Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai.
Agricultural Revolutions
Revolution | Related To | Father/Leader |
Green Revolution | Food Grain Production (Wheat/Rice) | N. Borlaug (World), M.S. Swaminathan (India) |
White Revolution | Milk Production (Operation Flood) | Dr. Verghese Kurien |
Blue Revolution | Fish Production | Dr. Arun Krishnan |
Yellow Revolution | Oilseeds Production (Mustard/Sunflower) | Sam Pitroda |
Golden Revolution | Fruit/Honey/Horticulture | Nirpakh Tutaj |
Pink Revolution | Onion/Prawn/Pharmaceuticals | Durgesh Patel |
Grey Revolution | Fertilizer Production | - |
Round Revolution | Potato Production | - |
Silver Revolution | Egg/Poultry Production | Indira Gandhi |
Rainbow Revolution | Overall development of agriculture sector | - |
Famous Names of Crops
King of Cereals: Wheat
Queen of Cereals: Maize
King of Pulses: Chickpea (Gram)
Queen of Pulses: Pea
King of Oilseeds: Groundnut
Queen of Oilseeds: Sesame (Til)
King of Weeds: Congress Grass (Parthenium)
King of Fruits: Mango (National Fruit of India)
Queen of Fruits: Mangosteen / Litchi
King of Spices: Black Pepper
Queen of Spices: Cardamom (Small)
Poor Man's Meat: Soybean / Pulses
Poor Man's Fruit: Ber (Jujube) / Jackfruit
Kalpavriksha: Coconut
Important Days in Agriculture
March 21: World Forestry Day.
March 22: World Water Day.
April 22: World Earth Day.
June 5: World Environment Day.
July 16: ICAR Foundation Day.
October 16: World Food Day.
December 3: Agricultural Education Day (R. Prasad's B-day).
December 23: Kisan Diwas (Ch. Charan Singh's B-day).
Best of Luck
