“Shrinking landholdings and rising food demand are shaping a new agricultural landscape in India”. Analyse the causes of land shrinkage and its implications for food security. Suggest structural reforms to enhance land productivity.
Kartavya Desk Staff
Topic: Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent)
Topic: Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent)
Q2. “Shrinking landholdings and rising food demand are shaping a new agricultural landscape in India”. Analyse the causes of land shrinkage and its implications for food security. Suggest structural reforms to enhance land productivity. (15 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: DTE
Why the question The ICAR 2025 policy paper highlights critical trends of declining landholding size and rising food demand by 2047, making it necessary to examine underlying causes and solutions for sustainable agriculture. Key demand of the question The question demands an analysis of the reasons behind shrinking landholdings, assessment of its impact on food security, and recommendations for structural reforms to enhance productivity. Structure of the Answer: Introduction Mention India’s projected doubling of food demand by 2047 and concurrent decline in average landholding size. Body Causes of land shrinkage: demographic pressure, urbanisation, policy gaps, climate stress. Implications for food security: reduced productivity, rising input costs, nutritional insecurity. Structural reforms to enhance land productivity: land consolidation, diversification, digitisation, credit access. Conclusion Emphasise the need for integrated policy measures to balance land constraints with sustainable food production for India’s future.
Why the question The ICAR 2025 policy paper highlights critical trends of declining landholding size and rising food demand by 2047, making it necessary to examine underlying causes and solutions for sustainable agriculture.
Key demand of the question The question demands an analysis of the reasons behind shrinking landholdings, assessment of its impact on food security, and recommendations for structural reforms to enhance productivity.
Structure of the Answer:
Introduction Mention India’s projected doubling of food demand by 2047 and concurrent decline in average landholding size.
• Causes of land shrinkage: demographic pressure, urbanisation, policy gaps, climate stress.
• Implications for food security: reduced productivity, rising input costs, nutritional insecurity.
• Structural reforms to enhance land productivity: land consolidation, diversification, digitisation, credit access.
Conclusion Emphasise the need for integrated policy measures to balance land constraints with sustainable food production for India’s future.