Resilience in agriculture is built more through decentralised production systems than through scale alone. Discuss.
Kartavya Desk Staff
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Q5. Resilience in agriculture is built more through decentralised production systems than through scale alone. Discuss. (15 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: DTE
Why the question Climate shocks, market volatility and input stress are making resilience a central goal of India’s agriculture strategy. It also tests whether India should pursue scale-led industrial farming or strengthen decentralised smallholder systems through institutions and infrastructure. Key Demand of the question The question requires discussing the given statement by explaining why decentralised production can enhance resilience, then outlining the key challenges of such systems, and finally suggesting a way forward that builds resilience while improving productivity and market efficiency. Structure of the Answer Introduction Define agricultural resilience briefly and link it to India’s smallholder-dominated agriculture facing climate and price shocks. Body Discuss the statement by showing how decentralisation improves resilience through diversification, distributed risk and local institutions. Challenges of decentralised systems such as fragmentation, low productivity, weak value chains, limited risk cover and high transaction costs. Way forward focusing on scaling through FPOs/cooperatives, decentralised infrastructure, climate services, insurance reforms and better market integration. Conclusion Conclude with a solution-oriented line on building “resilient scale” by strengthening decentralised producers rather than replacing them.
Why the question Climate shocks, market volatility and input stress are making resilience a central goal of India’s agriculture strategy. It also tests whether India should pursue scale-led industrial farming or strengthen decentralised smallholder systems through institutions and infrastructure.
Key Demand of the question The question requires discussing the given statement by explaining why decentralised production can enhance resilience, then outlining the key challenges of such systems, and finally suggesting a way forward that builds resilience while improving productivity and market efficiency.
Structure of the Answer
Introduction Define agricultural resilience briefly and link it to India’s smallholder-dominated agriculture facing climate and price shocks.
• Discuss the statement by showing how decentralisation improves resilience through diversification, distributed risk and local institutions.
• Challenges of decentralised systems such as fragmentation, low productivity, weak value chains, limited risk cover and high transaction costs.
• Way forward focusing on scaling through FPOs/cooperatives, decentralised infrastructure, climate services, insurance reforms and better market integration.
Conclusion Conclude with a solution-oriented line on building “resilient scale” by strengthening decentralised producers rather than replacing them.