Changing Sources of Growth in Indian Agriculture: Implications for Regional Priorities for Accelerating Agricultural Growth

Abstract

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), established in 1975, provides evidence-based policy solutions to sustainably end hunger and malnutrition and reduce poverty. The Institute conducts research, communicates results, optimizes partnerships, and builds capacity to ensure sustainable food production, promote healthy food systems, improve markets and trade, transform agriculture, build resilience, and strengthen institutions and governance. Gender is considered in all of the Institute's work. IFPRI collaborates with partners around the world, including development implementers, public institutions, the private sector, and farmers' organizations, to ensure that local, national, regional, and global food policies are based on evidence. IFPRI is a member of the CGIAR Consortium.

Assessing the Impact of Crop Diversification on Farm Poverty in India

“…However, HVCs and staple food crops might not necessarily compete with each other. Birthal et al (2014) find that diversification toward HVCs in India occurred largely by replacing low-value coarse grains and not rice and wheat.…”

“…However, sources of growth in Indian agriculture have changed considerably over time (Birthal et al, 2014). Land frontiers are increasingly getting exhausted indicating limited scope for enhancing agricultural growth through area expansion.…”

“…This issue has been evaluated qualitatively in several studies (Barghouti et al, 2004;Birthal, Joshi, Negi, & Agarwal, 2014;IFPRI, 2005;Joshi et al, 2004;Minot & Roy, 2007) and has been actively discussed in policy as well (Birthal et al, 2014;Gulati, Minot, Delgado, & Bora, 2007;Rao, Birthal, & Joshi, 2006;Roy & Thorat, 2007;Torero & Gulati, 2004;Weinberger & Lumpkin, 2007). However, to the best of our knowledge, robust empirical link between diversification and poverty has not been established.…”

Remotely sensed high resolution irrigated area mapping in India for 2000 to 2015

“…In the future, the Indian region may experience stress to meet its water demand due to extreme weather and climate events such as droughts and heat waves, specifically in arid and semi-arid regions, where groundwater extraction is prominent for irrigation 3–5 . A remarkable change in agriculture practices occurred in India after 1970, with a massive agricultural expansion called the ‘ green revolution’ 4,6 . This revolution resulted in the agriculture sector benefiting from the introduction and expansion of different types of irrigation, fertilizers, and high yield crop varieties 4,6,7 .…”

“…A remarkable change in agriculture practices occurred in India after 1970, with a massive agricultural expansion called the ‘ green revolution’ 4,6 . This revolution resulted in the agriculture sector benefiting from the introduction and expansion of different types of irrigation, fertilizers, and high yield crop varieties 4,6,7 .…”