Lok Sabha Question No. 1741 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-02
Subject: Agricultural Labour Productivity
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Ravneet Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1741

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  2 ND  JULY, 2019

## AGRICULTURAL LABOUR PRODUCTIVITY

1741.  SHRI RAVNEET SINGH BITTU:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that agricultural labour productivity in India is less than one-third of that of China;
- (b) if so, the steps taken by the Government to increase labour productivity; and
- (c) whether the Government is aware that land productivity is also far worse than that of other countries in Asia, if so, the steps taken by the Government to resolve the unproductive statistic?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी ( SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a)  to (c): Economic Survey 2016-17 (Vol. II) has opined that the overall agricultural labour productivity of India in terms of Gross Value Addition (GVA) per worker is less than a third of that in China. International comparison of many economic variables is problematic as it tends to ignore the complex dimensions of production or value addition processes or consumption. Even  Gross  Domestic  Product  (GDP)  of  countries  are  not  strictly  comparable  by  using international  currencies  like  US  Dollar  and  the  accepted  measure  of  GDP  for  international comparisons is the GDP measured on purchasing power parity basis.

As  such,  GVA  per  worker  is  an  inappropriate  measure  of  agriculture  production  as varied  agricultural  inputs,  agro-ecological  zones  and  a  number  of  socio-economic  factors influence  productivity.  Agriculture  productivity  is  normally  measured  in  terms  of  agriculture output  per  hectare  of  land.  Indian  being  a  large  country,  there  are  large  inter  regional variations in output per hectare of land due to agro-climatic and other contexts.

Given  the  above  caveats,  India  is  ranked  23 rd among  Asian  countries  in  cereal productivity while 39 th in pulse productivity based on latest 2017 data of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. However, these rankings do not take into account various other factors that influence and impact productivity.

In  order  to  increase  production  and  productivity  of  agricultural  crops  in  the  country, Government of India is implementing through State Governments, several Crop Development Schemes/Programmes  such  as  National  Food  Security  Mission  (NFSM),  Rashtriya  Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI), National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Soil Health Card etc.

Under these Schemes / Programmes, funds are provided to States for implementation of State-specific agricultural strategies including incentives to farmers for use of quality seeds, improve soil health under Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), Integrated Pest Management  (IPM),  farm  mechanization,  etc.  The  States  are  also  provided  support  for creation of agricultural infrastructure for optimal use of water and other natural resources.

Further,  to  achieve  higher  agricultural  productivity,  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural Research  (ICAR)  is  conducting  basic  and  strategic  research  relating  to  crop  improvement, production and protection technologies suitable to different situations including development of location-specific varieties/hybrids and technologies.

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