Agriculture notes prepared by IAS Topper for all agriculture based competitive exams-Agronomy- Reasons for poor agricultural production

Reasons for poor agricultural production

• Poor adoption of high yielding varieties
• Failure to produce, certify and supply quality seeds
• More than 70 per cent of land is under rainfed condition which need proper research for crop cultivation and irrigation
• Poor water management and faulty adoption of irrigation methods
• Excess application of Imbalanced fertilizer and pollution of soil and water environment
• Introduction of high yielding exotic varieties lead to the build up of pest and diseases resulting in heavy loss of crop yield. Introduction of weeds through the plant introduction also created havoc to traditional crop cultivation.
• Indiscriminate use pesticides like insecticides, fungicides, herbicides etc has caused air, water and soil pollution which are detrimental to both flora and fauna of the environment
• Poor pricing mechanism, credit policy and marketing facility provides less remuneration to the farmers
• Use of traditional implements and machineries increased the total cost of production
• Poor land management, increasing deforestation and wastelands are some of the worst fall outs of modern agriculture
• Failure of extension service and poor transfer of technology

Strategies to overcome

1). Development of regional specific varieties, production of quality seeds, certification and training of the farmers in seed production

2). Development of efficient irrigation system and methods for proper utilization of water

3). Judicious use of manures and fertilizers through integrated nutrient management

4). Efficient plant protection measures like judicious use of pesticides. Resistant management and integrated pest, disease and weed management to prevent any draw back of pesticides

5). Agricultural mechanization along with credit support and extension programme

6). Agro-climatic approach for crop yields and research

7). Agricultural research, education and extension

8). Agricultural credit and insurance through

• Flow of credit by commercial, regional and co-operative banks to needy farmers
• Crop insurance against natural hazards and crop loss and issuing of credit cards to the farmers to enhance credit availability
• Promotion f regulated markets and bringing organized institutions into the agricultural marketing. Ex. CACP, FCI, Cotton Corporation, Jute Corporation, NAFED, TRIFED.