Agricultural Extension and Evaluation

Agriculture was the predominant sector of Indian economy at the time of Independence from colonial rule in 1947. The share of agriculture in total gross domestic product at that time was above 55 per cent, and about 70 per cent of workforce was engaged in agriculture sector. Since the urban industrial and tertiary sectors were very small, and absorbed only 26 per cent of labour force, vast majority of Indian population, about 83 per cent, lived in rural areas (Census 1951).