ABSTRACT
This chapter presents perspectives of agricultural communities from Faridabad on the role of agriculture and focuses on farming practices and seasonal activity calendars of such agricultural communities. Faridabad is one district, which is a part of the success story of 'green revolution' in agriculture in the late sixties. With high yielding variety of seed, high doses of fertilisers and pesticides, better irrigation facilities and flood control measures, agricultural production reached heights supported by animal husbandry. Though the industries in Faridabad have contributed to rapid industrial and urban growth they have also led to negative externalities by way of air and water pollution and irreversible damage to natural resources. The farmers in the villages of Faridabad under reference use tractors for ploughing fields, sowing seeds, for irrigation and harvesting of crops. Decision-making by farmers on the kind of crop to be cultivated is determined by six factors: water requirement; land size; experience; time required; costs of cultivation; and returns on crops.
