It is difficult to exaggerate the role that agriculture plays in promoting both the economic and social well-being of the nation. The share of agriculture in India's GDP may have fallen steadily in recent years, but the numbers understate the real impact of agricultural fortunes on the country's economic prosperity. Agriculture acts on the economy through rural consumption and employment as well as through the general nutritional security and well-being of the population. The growth of Indian agriculture also has direct implications for poverty alleviation.