Indian Agriculture — Rise in Wheat Production In India’s Green Revolution era and after, the principal reason for the increase in wheat production has been:

Introduction / Context:Understanding why crop output grows helps distinguish between extensive growth (more land) and intensive growth (higher productivity). India’s wheat boom during and after the Green Revolution is a textbook case of technological change raising yields rather than simply expanding acreage.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Period considered includes the spread of high-yielding varieties (HYVs), fertilizers, irrigation, and agronomic practices.
• We compare area expansion against yield improvements as drivers of output.
• Demand and price changes can influence incentives but are not direct agronomic causes of higher output per se.

Concept / Approach:

Total production = Area * Yield. In the Green Revolution, improved seed genetics, input use (N-P-K), pest and disease management, and irrigation raised yields markedly, especially in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. While area under wheat grew in some regions, the dominant nationwide driver of sustained production gains has been yield per hectare, attributable to technology and management improvements.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Decompose output growth into area and yield components.Assess the Green Revolution: HYVs + inputs → higher yield.Conclude that increased yield per hectare is the principal factor.

Verification / Alternative check:

Historical data series show disproportionate contributions from yield growth compared to limited net expansion of sown area, especially post-1960s in major wheat belts of Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Increase in area: Contributed at times but was not the main, sustained driver.Demand/Prices: Affect farmer decisions but do not inherently raise biological yield without technological change.

Common Pitfalls:

Equating higher production solely with more land; intensive technological change often dominates long-run gains in cereals.

Final Answer:

increase in yield per hectare