6) Government reports say 2004-14 had the highest agriculture growth that has fast slipped back to near-zero growth despite normal monsoons and bumper yields. Critically examine the reasons for agriculture distress in recent years and urgent measures needed to salvage the crisis. (250 Words)

Reasons for agricultural distress:

1. Lower productivity due to fragmented land holdings and sub mechanisastion (below standards)

2. Ansense of a proper seed policy (we are still at Seed Policy bill 2005 stage which has not been passed. What stays in place is Seed Act 1968 and Seeds control act 1974, because of which we are not able to curb monopoly in the hybrid seeds and not able to address sufficient consumer complaints)

3. geographicla disparity: still we are at concept stage in Bringing green revolution in eastern India: mentioned in raftaar scheme (Krshi Vikas Yojana)

4. Cultural reasons: Agriculture as stagnated to the limit of geographical expertise, rice is bumper crop in eastern India, tea is a bumper crop in north eastern India, and millet is a bumper crop in western arid region, but why can't it be reverse? rice is bumper crop in western India, millet is a bumper crop in plains in north and tea is a bumper crop in southern india and western ghats ? Geographical conditions required for these crops do exist, but we also have state of art reserach institutes not only in India but also in abroad such as International rice research institute in phillipines which can do this for us. 

So, we have stopped thinking big, there is agricultural distress.

We need to think big in above terms to solve this issue