Explain how new scientific knowledge
Agriculture one of the most ancient occupations of man ever since the birth of civilization had been a rickety business till recently. The poor farmers had to depend on bullocks, buffaloes and horses for plowing. In some countries they used even camels. The plough was very crude. Traditionally the farmer knew the kind of seed and soil but when things went wrong he was helpless against natural calamities. He was following crude methods to store his food grains. The lack of proper transport was a problem. So against odds the farmer had to struggle hard.
Now thanks to the advance of technology, a number of agricultural implements have been put into the hands of the farmer. They help him in extensive and intensive agriculture. The bulldozer is a powerful machine which helps in leveling the ground in a short time whereas in the past it would take several days of manual work. Then there is the tractor which helps the farmer in plowing. Different types of plough shares can be attached to the tractor and deep, plowing has become possible. With the traditional or drawn plough, plowing was not efficient. Even for planting the seeds like grains, potato and sugar cane, there are different types of equipment facilitating efficient performance. In vast areas harvestors are used for harvesting which can harvest and separate the grain from the dry stalk. Mechanically the grain can be taken to storage bins, or ‘SILOS’ which are rodent proof.
Chemical fertilizers have become the order of the day. Since the nature of the soil can be tested and the kind of manure a crop may need is available, a farmer can choose a suitable fertilizer to get a bumper crop. The deficiency or the weakness of the soil is known and duly corrected. Plants suffer from various diseases and there are pests which prey on them. These are being countered today with powerful pesticides and insecticides and as such the diseases are kept under control. Good seeds have become possible because of research. Hybrids which resist diseases and at the same time give high yield are now available to the willing farmer. This knowledge becomes available to the farmer through the media and agriculture department.
Soil conservation methods are used so that the nature of the soil is preserved. So too in the case of water conservation. Water is not allowed to go to waste. By putting up dams across rivers, water is being stored which can be economically used and because of this, millions and millions of hectares of land have been brought under the plough increasing the production of food grain. Deep well-pumps have come to the rescue of the farmer. In the traditional method man and the animal had to sweat and labor with poor returns but, with pump sets, well irrigation had become very efficient and areas which were once almost deserts have become productive.
Modern methods of transport have also come to help the farmer in finding a distant market. Wheat from America can be transported to countries where people are starving.
So we find science has made agricultural inroads which is a viable contribution to the economy.
