Which factors contribute to low agricultural yields in Odisha?

Agricultural yields in Odisha are generally low due to a combination of environmental and management factors. The primary contributors to these limited yields include:

• Environmental Constraints: Farmers face challenges from low sunlight availability and modest soil quality.1
• Climatic Variability: The state experiences significant fluctuations in both the volume and the timing of monsoon rains, which disrupts consistent crop production.1
• Resource Management: There is a limited use of fertilizer across the state's agricultural lands.1

Furthermore, much of the land in Odisha is either unproductive or unsuitable for supporting more than a single annual crop, which limits the overall agricultural output. While projects like the Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi river were established to assist with irrigation and flood control, the aforementioned factors continue to pose significant hurdles for the state's farmers.12