Mahendra Dev, Srijit Mishra, and Vijaylaxmi Pandey contextualize Indian agriculture by an evaluation of its performance, with a focus on the roles, challenges and opportunities for small holders. They observe a turn-around over 2004/5–2010/1 compared to the immediate post-reforms period, which had witnessed stagnation in comparison to the pre-reforms period. Public policy initiatives on investment, research, extension and credit and a set of good monsoons were among the reasons for improvement. But livelihood sustainability of smallholder farmers is a matter of concern. Even so, there are opportunities to reduce costs and risks and use low external input sustainable agriculture without compromising on production. There were sharp peaks in agricultural prices that contributed to inflation. But after prices moderated with export prices, there was severe small farmer distress. The supply response has to keep up with demand growth without excessive inflation even as the population dependent on agriculture shrinks.
Low external input sustainable agriculture: Winter flooding in rice fields increases bird use, fecal matter and soil health, reducing fertilizer requirements
