The Economic Survey 2015-2016 released today showed that yields of major crops like paddy, pulses and wheat are low.
According to the survey, in wheat, India's average yield in 2013 of 3075 kg/ha is lower than the world average of 3257 kg/ha. The picture is starker in paddy production where all Indian states have yields below that of China and most states have yields below that of Bangladesh. India's best state, Punjab, has paddy yield close to 6000 kg/ha whereas China’s yield is 6709 kg/ha.
Although, India happens to be the major producer and consumer of pulses, which is one of the major sources of protein for the population, the demand has constantly outstripped the supply. On an average, countries like Brazil, Nigeria, and Myanmar have higher yields than India.
Factors behind low productivity:
In India most of the land dedicated to growing pulses in each state is unirrigated and the national output ofpulses comes predominantly from un-irrigated land.
The inefficient use of water for agriculture is affecting the productivity. Although water is one of India's most scarce natural resources, India uses 2 to 4 times more water to produce a unit of major food crop than does China and Brazil.
The report says that key factor undermining the efficient use of water is subsidies on power for agriculture as it incentivises wasteful use of water and hastens the decline of water tables. According to an analysis by NASA, India's water tables are declining at a rate of 0.3 meters per year.
The report suggests that the irrigation investments must shift to adopting technologies like sprinkler and drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting (leveraging labour available under the MGNREGS where possible).
According to the survey, in wheat, India's average yield in 2013 of 3075 kg/ha is lower than the world average of 3257 kg/ha. The picture is starker in paddy production where all Indian states have yields below that of China and most states have yields below that of Bangladesh. India's best state, Punjab, has paddy yield close to 6000 kg/ha whereas China’s yield is 6709 kg/ha.
Although, India happens to be the major producer and consumer of pulses, which is one of the major sources of protein for the population, the demand has constantly outstripped the supply. On an average, countries like Brazil, Nigeria, and Myanmar have higher yields than India.
Factors behind low productivity:
In India most of the land dedicated to growing pulses in each state is unirrigated and the national output ofpulses comes predominantly from un-irrigated land.
The inefficient use of water for agriculture is affecting the productivity. Although water is one of India's most scarce natural resources, India uses 2 to 4 times more water to produce a unit of major food crop than does China and Brazil.
The report says that key factor undermining the efficient use of water is subsidies on power for agriculture as it incentivises wasteful use of water and hastens the decline of water tables. According to an analysis by NASA, India's water tables are declining at a rate of 0.3 meters per year.
The report suggests that the irrigation investments must shift to adopting technologies like sprinkler and drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting (leveraging labour available under the MGNREGS where possible).