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Agricultural Productivity — The Growth Story
2.1 From Scarcity to Surplus: The Green Revolution
At independence (1947), India was food-deficient — importing grain under PL-480 (US food aid) and vulnerable to famines (Bengal famine 1943: 2–3 million deaths). The transformation came in two waves.
First Green Revolution (1965–70)
- Introduction of HYV dwarf wheat from CIMMYT (Mexico) by M.S. Swaminathan
- Inputs of chemical fertilizers, irrigation, and mechanisation
- Initially concentrated in Punjab, Haryana, and western UP
Key production milestones:
- Wheat: 11 MT (1965–66) → 29 MT (1972–73) → 107.7 MT (2023–24)
- Rice: 30 MT (1965) → 95 MT (2000) → ~140 MT (2023–24)
- Total foodgrains: 50.8 MT (1950–51) → 328.8 MT (2023–24)
Second Green Revolution (2000s–present)
- Technology-driven: GM crops, precision agriculture, digital agri-services
- Targeting eastern India (Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand)
- Focused on pulses and oilseeds — crops neglected in the first revolution
2.2 India's Agricultural Production Strengths (2023–24)
- World's largest producer: Milk (239 MT), Pulses, Spices, Jute, Bananas
- World's 2nd largest producer: Rice, Wheat, Sugarcane, Cotton, Groundnut, Vegetables
- World's 2nd largest fisheries producer (marine + inland combined)
2.3 Structural Challenges in Productivity
Despite production gains, India's yield rates (output per hectare) lag global leaders:
| Crop | India (t/ha) | World Top Producer (t/ha) | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat | 3.6 | UK: 8.1 | 2.2x gap |
| Rice | 2.7 | China: 7.1 | 2.6x gap |
| Maize | 3.0 | USA: 10.8 | 3.6x gap |
| Sugarcane | 73 | Australia: 90+ | Small gap |
Root causes of low productivity:
- Land fragmentation: Average farm size fell from 2.82 ha (1970–71) to 1.08 ha (2015–16) — below minimum economical threshold; 86% of holdings are small/marginal (<2 ha)
- Irrigation deficit: Only 52% of net sown area is irrigated (2023); 48% remains rain-fed
- Input use inefficiency: Excessive urea use distorts N:P:K ratio; causes soil health degradation
- Seed replacement rate: Only 25–30% area under certified seeds (vs. 50–80% in advanced countries)
- Post-harvest losses: 15–30% of production lost due to poor storage, cold chain, and transport
2.4 Policy Responses to Productivity Gaps
- Soil Health Card Scheme (2015): Free soil testing for 14 crore+ farmers with site-specific fertiliser recommendations
- PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) (2015): "Har Khet Ko Pani, Pani Ka Sahi Istemaal" — drip/sprinkler irrigation; 13.3 lakh ha covered (2022–23)
- Digital Agriculture Mission (2021–2026): AgriStack (farmer digital database), drone technology, AI-driven advisory services