Question

Suggest ways by which agricultural production can be increased

Answer 1

invest more in agriculture and agriculture education at national and state level

- climate smart agriculture

- increase irrigation (especially drip feed), rainwater harvesting and integrated watershed management

- diversification within rice based system, including aquaculture (fish!)

- reduce soil erosion from mono-cropping, switch to modern and traditional inter-cropping, permaculture, agro-forestry

- reduce rice subsidies; instead increase social security for the food insecure

- increase credit, training, fertiliser, water management kit for village farmers

- carefully look at what new technologies are on offer, while maintaining India's food sovereignty

- land reform, especially security for tenant farmers

- improved general education for girls and women

- improved health care and preventive health, especially for malaria and other chronic or debilitating illnesses