Mapping the dynamics of world agricultural research output

Agriculture sector is the largest private sector enterprise in India, covering about 100 million farmers and 70% of the population is dependent on agriculture for livelihood. It contributes about 25% of country''s Gross Domestic Product. In such a context, the subject of agriculture with its allied branches acquires immense significance. In the era of information explosion, it is not possible for a researcher to scan all the pieces of information generated, to extract the relevant ones. Thus, the need was felt for bibliographic control of literature contributed to the agricultural and allied sciences on India. Keeping in view the need, a study of this kind was identified as the area of this scientometric study on the basis of inclusion in the leading agricultural databases of the world. These kinds of Literature-based mapping can provide valuable insights for policy makers and researchers and can be used in framing policies for higher education and science. It can even be used in evaluating and monitoring institutional performance and can reveal a nation''s (or any large aggregate''s) strengths in terms of journals used for publishing, active institutions and sub-fields