Correct Option
The correct option is 2 only
Explanation
Poverty among small and marginal farmers is deeply rooted in structural bottlenecks within the agricultural sector. These bottlenecks include demographic pressure on land resources, lack of infrastructure, and low profitability, which collectively hinder the economic mobility of the rural population.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: The per capita availability of cultivable land has steadily declined due to rapid population growth. Additionally, inheritance laws result in the subdivision of land across generations, leading to the fragmentation of landholdings. These small, fragmented plots are often economically unviable and difficult to cultivate using modern, efficient methods.
- Statement 2 is Correct: Small farmers generally lack the capital required to establish private irrigation systems, such as tube wells. Consequently, they remain heavily dependent on the monsoon for cultivation. This reliance makes them vulnerable to rainfall variability, crop failure, and subsequent income shocks.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: The income derived from small landholdings is usually insufficient to meet the basic consumption needs of a household. Due to low productivity, lack of marketable surplus, and rising input costs, small farmers often face subsistence-level living conditions and indebtedness, rather than financial sufficiency.
Key Takeaway: The persistence of poverty among small farmers is primarily caused by the fragmentation of landholdings, lack of assured irrigation, and the inability of small-scale agriculture to generate sufficient surplus income.