Since most farm operators have been small and marginal farmers in India, growth in the sector was mainly determined by the role of the state-both in capital financing as well as the incentive structures created. Now, however, there is distress among small and marginal farmers, both in agriculturally advanced as well as backward regions, as manifested in farmer suicides. The viability of small holdings is an important issue and promoting agricultural commercialisation and diversification towards high-value crops is one of the means through which this can be achieved.
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