International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development
2025, Vol. 8, Issue 9, Part H
Determinants of agricultural development in Maharashtra
Hake AD, Thorat VA and Borate HV
Agriculture has historically played a pivotal role in the economy of Maharashtra; however, its relative contribution has gradually declined over time. This decline is indicative of major structural changes within the state’s economy, as reflected in the decreasing share of agriculture in the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), signaling a gradual transition away from an agrarian base. The regional dimensions of this transformation, as well as its long-term sustainability, necessitate a systematic exploration of sectoral performance and corresponding public policy interventions. Given the growing consensus in India on the importance of micro-level planning, it becomes both relevant and insightful to assess development at the divisional level. Such an assessment enables the identification of inter-divisional disparities and provides a comparative perspective on the relative standing of each division.
Consequently, research in this area is essential for quantifying the status of agricultural development across divisions, considering multiple sectors as well as aggregate development. Empirical analysis of the determinants of development indicates that four key sectors animal husbandry, transportation, area under crops, and input supply have made a positive contribution to agricultural growth, whereas the remaining sectors exhibited either negligible or negative contributions. Since agricultural development is inherently a multidimensional process, coordinated and efficient management of all relevant sectors is crucial to minimizing inter-divisional disparities and fostering balanced agricultural and overall economic development in the state.
Hake AD, Thorat VA, Borate HV. Determinants of agricultural development in Maharashtra. Int J Agric Extension Social Dev 2025;8(9):553-556. DOI: 10.33545/26180723.2025.v8.i9h.2460
