Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it. The stark observation made in the Economic Survey of 2015-16 that “Indian agriculture, is in a way, a victim of its own past success – especially the green revolution”, shows the dark reality of the agriculture sector at present and the havoc that has been wrecked by the green revolution. The green revolution, which is often characterised by the introduction of a high-yielding variety of seeds and fertilizers, undoubtedly increased the productivity of land considerably. But the growth in productivity has been stagnant in recent years, resulting in a significant decline in the income of farmers. There have also been negative environmental effects in the form of depleting water table, emission of greenhouse gases, and the contamination of surface and groundwater. Needless to say, the agriculture sector is in a state of distress, which is severely affecting peasants and marginal farmers, and urgent policy interventions are required to protect their interests. The government has responded to the problem by constituting a panel, which will recommend ways to double the income of farmers by 2022. While this may be an overly ambitious target if we want to boost stagnated agricultural growth a shift has to be made from the food security of the nation to the income security of the farmers. However, there are many hurdles that have to be crossed if we want to achieve this objective. The first major barrier to overcome is declining productivity. Data from 2013 reveals that India’s average yield of cereal per hectare is far less than that of many countries (including several low-income countries), but the difference is huge when compared to China. For instance, our average yield per hectare is 39% below that of China and for rice, this figure is 46%. Even Bangladesh, Vietnam and Indonesia fare better than India in case of rice yield. Further, there is a huge inter-regional variation; the wheat and rice yield from Haryana and Punjab is much higher than from the other states. In order to cross the declining productivity barrier, there is a need to herald a rainbow revolution by making a shift from the wheat-rice cycle to other cereals and pulses. Since wheat and rice coupled with other crops are backed by minimum support prices (MSP) and input subsidy (whether water, fertilizer or power) regime, there is a huge incentive for the farmers in the irrigated region of Northwest India to grow these crops.
As per the passage, what is the main cause of decline in the income of farmers?
Decline in agricultural production
Understanding the Cause of Farmer Income Decline
The passage discusses the state of Indian agriculture, highlighting that despite the initial success of the Green Revolution in increasing productivity, the sector currently faces significant distress. The question asks about the main cause of the decline in farmer income, as stated in the text.
Let's analyze the relevant part of the passage:
But the growth in productivity has been stagnant in recent years, resulting in a significant decline in the income of farmers. There have also been negative environmental effects in the form of depleting water table, emission of greenhouse gases, and the contamination of surface and groundwater.
This excerpt directly links stagnant productivity growth to the decline in farmer income. It also mentions environmental effects separately, indicating they are additional issues, not presented as the primary cause of the income decline.
Analyzing the Options Based on the Passage
- Depleting water table: The passage lists this as a negative environmental effect, occurring alongside other issues after mentioning the decline in income due to stagnant productivity. It is not presented as the main cause of income decline.
- Contamination of ground water: Similar to depleting water table, this is described as a negative environmental effect, not the primary driver of income reduction according to the text.
- Emission of greenhouse gases: Again, listed as a negative environmental effect, distinct from the cause of income decline identified in the preceding sentence.
- Decline in agricultural production: The passage explicitly states that "growth in productivity has been stagnant in recent years, resulting in a significant decline in the income of farmers." Stagnant productivity means that the output per unit of land or input is not increasing, or potentially even decreasing in relative terms compared to potential or costs. This stagnation directly translates to a decline or lack of growth in agricultural production volume relative to input costs or market potential, thereby reducing farmer income. The phrase "stagnant growth in productivity" is the closest match to "decline in agricultural production" as the cause of income decline mentioned in the passage.
Based on the clear statement in the passage, the main cause of the decline in farmer income is the stagnation in productivity growth, which aligns with the concept of a decline or lack of improvement in agricultural production relative to what is needed for income growth.
Linking Stagnant Productivity to Income Decline
Farmer income is largely dependent on the quantity of crops produced and the price received. If productivity (yield per hectare, for example) stagnates or declines while costs of inputs (seeds, fertilizers, water, labour) increase, the net income for the farmer will decrease. The passage highlights this stagnant productivity as the direct cause of the significant decline in farmer income.
Conclusion on Farmer Income Decline Cause
The passage directly attributes the significant decline in farmer income to the stagnant growth in productivity. Among the given options, "Decline in agricultural production" (understood as stagnant or insufficient growth in production output resulting from stagnant productivity) is the most accurate representation of the cause identified in the text.
| Factor | Mentioned in Passage? | Identified as Main Cause of Income Decline? |
|---|---|---|
| Depleting water table | Yes | No (Environmental Effect) |
| Contamination of ground water | Yes | No (Environmental Effect) |
| Emission of greenhouse gases | Yes | No (Environmental Effect) |
| Stagnant productivity / Decline in production | Yes (as stagnant productivity) | Yes (directly linked to income decline) |
Therefore, as per the passage, the main cause for the decline in the income of farmers is the stagnation in agricultural productivity, which leads to a decline in agricultural production relative to inputs and costs.
Revision Table: Key Agricultural Concepts
| Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Green Revolution | Period of significant increase in agricultural production globally, especially in India, due to new seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation. |
| Productivity (Agricultural) | The measure of output (crop yield) per unit of input (land, labor, capital). Stagnant productivity means output isn't increasing much per unit input. |
| Farmer Income | The net earnings of farmers from agricultural activities after deducting costs. |
| Minimum Support Price (MSP) | A price set by the government to purchase crops from farmers, intended to ensure a minimum income. |
| Rainbow Revolution | A proposed concept to diversify agriculture beyond wheat and rice to include other crops like pulses, oilseeds, and horticulture. |
Additional Information on Agricultural Challenges
Beyond the core issue of stagnant productivity leading to reduced farmer income, the passage and broader context highlight several other challenges in Indian agriculture:
- Environmental Degradation: The Green Revolution's intensive practices, while boosting production, have led to serious environmental issues like water depletion, soil degradation, and pollution.
- Regional Disparities: The benefits and productivity gains have been uneven, with states like Punjab and Haryana showing much higher yields for certain crops compared to others.
- Input Dependency: Reliance on subsidized water, fertilizers, and power creates unsustainable practices and skews cropping patterns.
- Market Access & Price Volatility: Farmers often struggle with getting fair prices for their produce due to poor market infrastructure and price fluctuations.
- Shift from Food Security to Income Security: The passage suggests a necessary policy shift from focusing solely on national food grain stocks to ensuring the economic well-being of farmers themselves.
Addressing these multifaceted challenges requires integrated policy interventions, including promoting sustainable practices, improving irrigation efficiency, diversifying crops, and strengthening market linkages, in addition to boosting productivity.
Important Questions from Reading Comprehension
Why, according to the writer can't people be motivated to use a resource prudently?
1. They feel that others may overuse the resource
2. It is possible to substitute the resource
3. Abundance of the resource availability
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
When do people use resources exhaustively?
The self-interest of people affects the use of renewable resources
People rooted in a locality
Which among the following is closest in meaning with the word 'deplete'?
