An In-Depth Exploration of Agricultural Efficiency within the Context of Mizoram: An Analysis of Current Practices, Challenges and Opportunities.

Abstract

Food is the basic need for human life and agriculture is an activity that allows meeting that demand. Man has been improving his agrarian activity by adding domestication of animals and to supplement his food supply by the flesh of animals and plants that he raises. Agriculture revolution some 10,000 years ago is still believed to be of utmost significance to mankind as it led to a new era in the use of energy. Adoption of agriculture resulted in reducing the amount of energy man had to spend in obtaining a unit of food. He began to develop better efficiency in tapping the solar energy cycle than the hunting and gathering (Cook, 1975). Hubert (1969) equates evolution of human culture with his increasing ability to control and manipulate energy of which agriculture has been the most significant development. Growth of agriculture also led to an era of higher rate of growth and increase in population density. And though it is doubtful to establish the geographical conditions in which Agriculture Revolution found its root (Saur, 1952) there is no denying the fact that it provided mankind a more sedate way of living that later flourished in the river valleys. Most of the ancient civilizations stand testimony to it and where agricultural operation could be carried out more conveniently. However, irrational and excessive use of environmental resources attributed mainly to increasing growth of population is believed to have led to the decline in the carrying capacity and demise of many old civilizations. People sought areas where there would be better productivity and better opportunities for resource use hence food security. Expansion of agricultural activities and ancient migration of people may largely be attributed to this fact.