Answer Review Thread

17. Mention the factors responsible for low productivity in agriculture in India

1. Agricultural output per hectare is agricultural productivity. At 2400 kg/hectare (rice) and2400 kg/hectare (wheat), India is behind many BRICS countries in productivity.

        Reasons for low productivity

1. Social Factors
• Land fragmentation due to division of property.
2. Economic Factors
• Creating multiple small holdings to get more subsidy.
• Lack of credit - only 60% farmers have access to bank loans.
3. Environmental Factors
• Declining soil fertility - as per ISRO, 30% of country's land is degrading.
• Dependence on monsoon - only 40% land under irrigation.
4. Other factors
• Problem of duplicate seeds, fertilizer, pesticide etc.

Steps Taken

1. Updating land records under Svamitva Scheme for easy loans.
2. PM Krishi Sinchayi Yojana to enhance irrigation coverage.
3. Soil Health Card for timely action for soil fertility.
4. Contract farming for access to loans, seeds, and investment.
5. Promotion of organic farmer for sustainable agriculture.

Low productivity poses challenge for ever increasing population and economic viability of farming, and coordinated actions are required to address this problem.