Annual Plan 1994-95 Vol. II Sectoral Profile Government of Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Uttar Pradesh is the largest State having 16.5 per cent of the Country’s population while it has only 9.0 per cent of the total geographical area. the contribution of agriculture to State’s income is about 41.5 per cent. However the average foodgrain yield in U.P. (end 1989-90) was 1651 kg per Hectare. the State has 75% of its total work force dependent on Agriculture. Thus the productivity of resources employed in this sector is low. The main reason for this is that about 88.2 per cent of total land holdings are small and marginal, having an area of less than one hectare. Continuous fragmentation of land and increasing urbanization has aggravated the problem of uneconomic holdings and low productivity of crops. Besides, the agricultural operation still largely depend upon the vagaries of monsoon.