Revision summary
Low agricultural productivity in India is yield per land, labour, and water, not only rainfall. Small fragmented holdings raise the cost of machines, seed, and irrigation per acre. Rainfed area, falling soil carbon, and NPK imbalance cut fertiliser response. Thin extension and seed lag keep new varieties off many plots. Price risk, post-harvest loss, and weak FPOs keep marketed surplus low despite PMKSY, NFSM, PMFBY, and e-NAM.
Model answer
Introduction
Indian agriculture still feeds a large population from small plots, but yield per hectare lags many Asian peers for several crops. Low productivity here means output per land, labour, and water—not only a bad monsoon year.
Body
Structural and resource causes
- Holdings are small and fragmented, so machines, irrigation, and quality seed are costly per acre.
- A large share of area is still rainfed; groundwater is over-drawn in some belts and missing in others.
- Soil organic carbon is falling; salinity, erosion, and imbalanced NPK use after cheap urea cut response to fertiliser.
- Public extension is thin, so Soil Health Card advice and new varieties do not always reach the plot.
Market, risk, and post-harvest
- Price risk and weak procurement outside a few crops keep farmers on low-value cereals even where horticulture would pay.
- PMFBY insurance, PM-KISAN cash, and e-NAM markets exist, but tenancy and missing records leave many tillers out.
- Post-harvest loss, weak FPOs, and slow PMKSY irrigation works mean a good crop still becomes a low marketed surplus.
- Research-to-field lag in seeds and farm mechanisation for small plots completes the squeeze.
Flow diagram
flowchart TD H[Small fragmented holdings] --> L[Low yield] R[Rainfed water stress] --> L S[Soil NPK imbalance] --> L E[Thin extension] --> L M[Price risk post-harvest] --> L L --> P[PMKSY NFSM RKVY SHC] L --> I[PMFBY PM-KISAN e-NAM FPO]
Conclusion
Low productivity is small plots, rain risk, tired soil, thin extension, and weak markets—not a single cause. Soil Health Card, PMKSY, NFSM, RKVY, PMFBY, and e-NAM are the named rails; they raise yield only if water, seed, and the tiller are aligned.
Quick related
Students also ask
-
What is 'S-CNG'? Describe its different uses.
Next question in the 2020 paper (Q6). View answer →
-
Is monsoon the only cause of low productivity?
No. Holdings, soil, seed, extension, and markets matter even in a good rain year.
-
Does PM-KISAN raise yield by itself?
It eases cash stress. Yield still needs water, seed, and advice on the plot.
PYQ trend
When UPSC asked this
Related PYQs from other years, newest first. Open a question to read it.
-
2024 · Q13 · UPGS3 · 12 marks
Assess the role of States and Central Government in developing irrigation infrastructure in India. How has Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (P.M.K.S.Y.) helped in improving irrigation access across the country? -
2022 · Q1 · UPGS3 · 8 marks
What do you understand by digital agriculture? Comment on its benefits. -
2022 · Q16 · UPGS3 · 12 marks
Define nanoscience and nanotechnology. Explain in detail their potential in different fields of science and agriculture. -
2021 · Q5 · UPGS3 · 8 marks
What is Technology Mission in agriculture? State its usefulness. -
2021 · Q7 · UPGS3 · 8 marks
‘Uttar Pradesh has a prominent position in the production of food crops in the country.’ Evaluate the statement. -
2020 · Q6 · UPGS3 · 8 marks
What is 'S-CNG'? Describe its different uses. -
2019 · Q18 · UPGS3 · 12 marks
Evaluate in brief the agriculture marketing reforms in India. Are they adequate? -
2018 · Q5 · UPGS3 · 8 marks
What is meant by ‘Technology Mission’ in Indian agriculture? Discuss its objectives.
More from this paper
Q1 · UPSC Mains 2020 · UPGS3 · 8 marks
What do you understand by "leaving no one behind" with reference to sustainable development goals?
Economic planning and NITI Aayog
Leaving no one behind is the 2030 Agenda pledge to reach the poorest and most excluded first. Averages hide caste, gender, disability, and geography; disaggregated data are required. NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index and Aspirational Districts name lagging units. DBT, Aadhaar, and Jan Dhan try to put transfers in the beneficiary’s account. PM-JAY, POSHAN, PMAY, Samagra Shiksha, and MGNREGA are the large service rails.
Q2 · UPSC Mains 2020 · UPGS3 · 8 marks
What are the objectives of NITI Aayog? Explain its three-years action plan.
Economic planning and NITI Aayog
NITI Aayog (2015) replaced the Planning Commission as a think tank, not a Plan-fund body. Objectives: cooperative federalism, SDG monitoring, innovation, and programme design. The Three-Year Action Agenda ran 2017–18 to 2019–20 under a 15-year vision and 7-year strategy. Priorities included jobs, farm income, infrastructure, inclusion, and governance. It was indicative; Union and State budgets still spend, while NITI tracks ranks and districts.
Q3 · UPSC Mains 2020 · UPGS3 · 8 marks
"Indian food processing industry has not grown with the pace of developed countries." Discuss it.
Food processing
India grows a lot of food but processes a smaller share than developed countries. Thin cold chain, uneven farm lots, slow Mega Food Parks, and compliance costs explain the lag. PMKSY (SAMPADA) funds parks, cold chain, and agro-processing clusters. Operation Greens and food-processing PLI target price crashes and branded scale. FSSAI, FPOs, and e-NAM help quality only when supply contracts exist.
Toppers' copies
Toppers' copies for this question will be uploaded soon.