Dynamics of Agricultural Input Use in India: Trends and Structural Shifts

The inputs of agriculture sector play an important role in substantial growth. For a period of four decades, the growth rate was negative for cultivable land (-0.09%) and cultivated land (-0.03%). The land area under total cereals and total foodgrains witnessed a negative growth rate of -0.02 per cent and -0.06 per cent respectively. Agricultural labourers witnessed a growth of 2.68 per cent. The machinery involved in agriculture was positive and it was 7.66 per cent in diesel engine pumpset, 5.88 per cent in electric pumpset, 10.71 per cent in power tillers and 16.03 per cent in tractors. Electricity consumption faced a growth rate of 6.40 per cent in agriculture and share of agricultural electricity consumption in total consumption witnessed a negative growth rate of -0.03 per cent. Economic development has been seen as both a cause and an outcome of structural transformation.