The textbook titled "Agricultural Heritage" is intended for undergraduate students majoring in agriculture at agricultural universities and colleges. It serves as a comprehensive resource for learning about the history and evolution of agriculture, which spans over a thousand years of civilization, social changes, and development. Despite the significant advancements in agricultural productivity achieved through intensive management practices and the introduction of high yielding varieties of cereal crops, it is crucial to understand the origins of agriculture in the ancient past.

A. Zaman, PhD, is an internationally renowned scientist who has been specializing in agricultural water management during his career of 40 years. He is currently Director of the School of Agricultural Sciences, Sister Nivedita University, Kolkata, India. Previous roles include Irrigation Agronomist; Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Director of Research, and Head of the Department of Agronomy at Bidhan Chandra Agricultural University; Chief Scientist in All India Coordinated Research Projects on Water Management; Associate Director of Research at the Regional Research Station, Old Alluvial Zone, India; Head of the Irrigation Expatriate Team, Government of Uganda; Programme Coordinator in the World Bank’s West Bengal Accelerated Development of Minor Irrigation Project; Emeritus Professor at the M.S. Swaminathan School of Agriculture; Professor and Founder In-charge, Agriculture, of The Neotia University, among others. A prolific author and researcher, he has published many research papers in international journals and conference proceedings, book chapters, and books. He has organized and been a speaker at conferences, workshops, technical sessions, etc.

Md. Hedayetullah, PhD, is Assistant Professor/Scientist, All India Coordinated Research Project on Chickpea, Directorate of Research, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India. He was formerly an agronomist for the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, Balasore, Odisha, India. He was also previously Assistant Professor, M.S. Swaminathan Institute of Agriculture Science, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Gajapati, Odisha, India, and at the College of Agriculture, Tripura, India. He was awarded the Maulana Azad National Fellowship Award from the University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India, and has received several fellowship grants from various funding agencies to carry out his research work during his academic career. Dr. Hedayetullah is the author and co-author of research papers, review papers, book chapters, several books, and technical bulletins. He has attended many national and international seminars, symposiums, conferences, workshops, etc., and has been the principal investigator of several agricultural research projects.

1.  Introduction to Agricultural Heritage, Definition of Heritage, Agricultural Heritage, Scope of Agriculture and Need to Study Agriculture Heritage

2. Relevance of Heritage to Present Day Agriculture

3.  Past Status of Agriculture and Farmers in Society Specific Role of/in Ensuring Food Security in Farming Systems Since Ancient Periods

4. Present Status of Agricultural Advancement, Modern Agricultural Education and Role of Agri-Societies

5. Agricultural Resources Available, Importance of Agriculture and Scope of Agriculture

6. Importance of Farmers and Ancient Agricultural Practices and Scientific Basis, Status of Agriculture as Advice by Sages to Kings on their Duties Towards Farmers

7. Heritage of Crop and Water Management in Ancient and Pre-historic and Medieval Period

8. Journey of Indian Agriculture and Its Development from Past to Modern Era

9. Crop Production Through Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITKs)

10. Plant Disorders, It Causes, Symptoms, Treatment Materials and Plant Protection in Ancient India Through Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITKs)

11. Crop Voyage in India and the World

12. Medicinal Plants and Thier Importance in Agricultural Heritage

13.  Gender Equity in Ancient and Modern Agriculture

14. Crop Significance and Crop Classifications

15. National Agricultural Setup in India

16. Current Scenario and Journey of Indian Agriculture and Its Impacts

17. Indian Agricultural Concerns and Future Prospects Agricultural Vision, The Future and Challenges Ahead

18. International Agricultural Research Setup