Solution
A large rise in agricultural output has occurred as a result of improved technology and irrigation expansion: i)ice and wheat production and yields have expanded at an amazing rate. Sugarcane, oilseeds, and cotton production, among other crops, have all increased significantly. India is the world's leading producer of pulses, tea, jute, cattle, and milk. It is the world's second-largest rice, wheat, peanut, sugarcane, and vegetable producer.
(ii) Irrigation expansion has been critical in increasing agricultural output in the country. It lays the groundwork for current agricultural technology like high-yielding seed varieties, chemical fertilisers, herbicides, and farm machinery. Between 1950-51 and 2000-01, the country's net irrigated area expanded from 20.85 to 54.66 million hectares. The area irrigated more than once in an agricultural year has expanded from 1.71 to 20.46 million hactare over the last 50 years. The 'Green Revolution' was the name given to this period of agricultural expansion. This also gave impetus to the development of a large number of agro-inputs, agro-processing industries and small-scale industries. This strategy of agricultural development made the country self-reliant in food grain production.