An Analysis of the Factors Affecting Cropping Intensity Across States of India

Abstract

Agriculture is known to be the backbone of the Indian economy. Agriculture significantly influences the Socio-economic and cultural aspects of people’s lives in India. In the absence of alternative livelihood opportunities in rural areas, around 47% of India's population depends on agriculture for their livelihoods. Therefore, agriculture plays a very important role in determining the quality of life of people in India, as about 64% of its population lives in rural areas. However, despite being the predominant occupation, Agriculture is the most backward and least productive sector of India. With around half of the population engaged in agriculture, it contributes only 17-18% of the national income. Unlike the manufacturing and service sectors, agriculture is seasonal; therefore, higher cropping intensity is expected to significantly influence agricultural production and productivity. The present study attempts to analyse the role of irrigation, farm mechanisation, use of chemical fertilisers, rural credit and public expenditure on agriculture in determining the level of cropping intensity across 15 states of India during 2018-2024. The study seeks to develop insights into the determinants of cropping intensity in Agriculture, with a clear objective of identifying and suggesting ways to improve it in Indian agriculture. The study uses stepwise regression analysis to identify the predictor variables which reduce the explanatory power of the regression model. In the present study, the use of NPK fertilisers reduced the explanatory power of the model and is therefore dropped from the analysis. Along with step-wise regression analysis, t-test, R-Squared, Adjusted R-Squared and Correlation Coefficients have also been used to achieve the set objectives of the study. The study finds that the percentage of net irrigated area, disbursement of agricultural credit by institutional sources, tractor density and public expenditure on agricultural development account for 63.7% of interstate variations in cropping intensity in India. However, the study has a major limitation concerning the unavailability of data for many states due to which only 15 states have been included in the analysis.