India, with its vast agricultural potential and diverse agro-climatic zones, finds itself grappling with challenges that hinder its agricultural productivity, causing it to lag behind many other countries. Several factors contribute to this disparity, including outdated farming practices, inadequate infrastructure, water scarcity, and insufficient access to modern technology. To address these issues and propel India towards sustainable agricultural development, a multi-faceted approach is essential. Implementing advanced farming techniques, improving irrigation facilities, investing in rural infrastructure, promoting research and development, and enhancing farmer education are crucial measures that can be undertaken to uplift agricultural productivity across different regions, fostering a sustainable and resilient agricultural sector.
Answer
India’s agricultural productivity is relatively low compared to other major agricultural producers. For example, India’s average yield of rice is about 2.5 tons per hectare, while in China it is about 6.5 tons per hectare.
India’s agricultural productivity challenges can be attributed to various factors such as:
- Small Landholdings
- The average farm size in India is very small (86% of farmers have less than 2 hectares of agricultural land) which makes it difficult for farmers to adopt modern agricultural technologies, such as mechanization and irrigation.
- This lowers the overall agricultural productivity.
- Cropping pattern not aligning with agro-ecological zones
- Distortions in the cropping pattern due to government policies like MSP which favours certain crops viz wheat and rice over other crops.
- These patterns give rise to monocropping tendencies negatively impacting agricultural productivity.
- Lack of Irrigation
- Many parts of India do not have access to irrigation, which makes it difficult for farmers to grow crops during dry periods.
- This is especially a problem in rain-fed areas, which account for about 60% of India’s cultivated land.
- Huge dependency on Monsoons for irrigation
- Monsoon rains being very unpredictable and concentrated in only four months (June-September) negatively impact the overall agricultural productivity.
- Lack of Infrastructure
- India’s infrastructure, such as roads, storage facilities, and markets, is not well- developed, which makes it difficult for farmers to get their products to market.
- This can lead to post-harvest losses of up to 30%
- Mechanisation in India is roughly 20% against 90-95% in USA and China which negatively impact the agricultural productivity.
- Poverty and Subsistence farming
- Many Indian farmers are subsistence farmers, meaning that they grow crops primarily to feed their families, rather than to sell for a profit.
- This can lead to a lack of investment in new technologies and practices.
- Government policies
- Government policies, such as price controls and subsidies, can discourage farmers from adopting new technologies and practices which ultimately impacts the overall agricultural productivity.
Measures to Improve Agricultural Productivity are as follows:
- Investment in Infrastructure
- Develop efficient transportation networks and cold storage facilities to reduce post-harvest losses.
- Upgrade irrigation systems to ensure consistent water supply, mitigating dependence on monsoons.
- Crop Diversification
- Encourage crop diversification based on agro-climatic zones to enhance resilience to climate variations.
- Promote sustainable practices, such as organic farming, to maintain soil health and reduce dependence on chemical inputs.
- Technology Adoption
- Facilitate the adoption of precision farming techniques and modern technologies for improved resource utilization.
- Provide farmers with access to weather forecasts and agricultural apps for better decision-making.
Soil Health Card Scheme, National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP), National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) are steps in the right direction by the government to enhance the overall agricultural productivity in the country.
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