Examine the various causes of agrarian crisis in India.

Economic Causes

Economic factors are arguably the most significant drivers of the agrarian crisis.

• Land Fragmentation & Small Landholdings: The average landholding size in India is shrinking, currently around 1.2 hectares (NSSO 70th Round, 2013). This makes farming economically unviable, hindering economies of scale and investment in technology.
• High Input Costs: Rising costs of seeds (especially Bt cotton), fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation have squeezed farmers’ margins. The dependence on private companies for these inputs further exacerbates the problem.
• Lack of Access to Credit: Many farmers, particularly small and marginal ones, are reliant on informal sources of credit (moneylenders) with exorbitant interest rates, leading to debt traps. While institutional credit has increased, it often doesn’t reach those who need it most.
• Market Imperfections & Price Volatility: Farmers often receive low prices for their produce due to a lack of market infrastructure, inadequate storage facilities, and the dominance of intermediaries. Price volatility, especially for perishable goods, adds to their vulnerability.
• Globalization & Liberalization: Post-1991 liberalization exposed Indian agriculture to global competition, impacting domestic prices and increasing import pressure.

Socio-Political Causes

Socio-political factors contribute significantly to the agrarian crisis, often exacerbating economic vulnerabilities.

• Land Tenure Systems: Insecure land tenure, particularly for tenant farmers and sharecroppers, discourages investment and long-term planning.
• Caste & Social Inequalities: Marginalized communities often face systemic discrimination in access to land, credit, and markets.
• Policy Failures & Implementation Gaps: Numerous agricultural policies have been implemented, but their effectiveness has been hampered by poor implementation, corruption, and a lack of coordination between different government departments. The Green Revolution, while increasing production, also led to regional disparities and environmental degradation.
• Weak Farmer Organizations: The lack of strong and effective farmer organizations limits their bargaining power and ability to advocate for their interests.

Technological Causes

While technology holds the potential to improve agriculture, its uneven adoption and certain technological choices have contributed to the crisis.

• Slow Adoption of Modern Technology: The adoption of modern farming techniques, such as precision agriculture and biotechnology, has been slow, particularly among small and marginal farmers.
• Over-reliance on Chemical Inputs: The Green Revolution promoted the intensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, leading to soil degradation, water pollution, and health hazards.
• Inadequate Irrigation Infrastructure: Despite significant investments in irrigation, a large proportion of agricultural land remains rain-fed, making it vulnerable to droughts and erratic rainfall.

Environmental Causes

Climate change and environmental degradation are increasingly impacting agricultural productivity and farmer livelihoods.

• Climate Change: Erratic rainfall patterns, increased frequency of droughts and floods, and rising temperatures are negatively affecting crop yields.
• Soil Degradation: Overuse of chemical fertilizers, deforestation, and unsustainable agricultural practices have led to soil erosion, nutrient depletion, and loss of soil fertility.
• Water Scarcity: Depletion of groundwater resources and increasing competition for water are posing a serious threat to agricultural production.
• Deforestation: Loss of forest cover contributes to soil erosion, reduced rainfall, and increased vulnerability to natural disasters.

Cause Category	Specific Issue	Impact
Economic	Small Landholdings	Reduced profitability, limited investment
Socio-Political	Policy Implementation	Ineffective schemes, corruption
Technological	Chemical Input Reliance	Soil degradation, health hazards
Environmental	Climate Change	Reduced yields, increased risk