This study explains that rapid growth in agricultural production and productivity is very important for an agriculturally predominant state like Madhya Pradesh. The production of total pulses, oilseeds and food grains has increased due to increase in the overall yield. However, the area under the production of food grains has declined in the post-economic reform period compared to that in the pre-economic reform period, but the production has increased due to increase in yield. The area of oil seed production has increased in the post-economic reform period and in the same way production and yield have also increased significantly. The increase in production resulted mainly due to the increase in yield only. So the study suggests that future growth in food grain production would demand a substantial government commitment to the technology-based growth in agriculture. Based on the findings, this study suggests that the government should come forward to supply all inputs in time and in adequate quantities for the rapid growth of agriculture in future.

The rapid growth in agricultural production and productivity is important for overall stability for any economy. The question is, whether it would be possible to improve output growth in the agricultural sector in the years to come. The slow pace of reforms in Madhya Pradesh and policy changes in agriculture are areas of deep concern. In the current scenario of liberalization and economic reforms, agricultural growth and rural development have been relegated to the periphery of the development agenda because greater focus is on industrial development and creating Special Economic Zones (SEZs) which will certainly be built on fertile agricultural land.

Agriculture sector forms the backbone of the Madhya Pradesh economy. A major part of the state's population (73.5%) live in rural areas and their livelihood is dependent on agriculture either directly or indirectly. Agriculture contributes almost one-third of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and provides employment to three-fourth of the total labor force. Agriculture determines the economic health of the state, because it affects other sectors, industry and service.

The total geographical area of Madhya Pradesh is 30.75 million hectare. The area under forest was 8.57 million hectares (27.8%) in 2003-2004. This forest land was not available for cultivation. Land put to non-agricultural use was 1.89% (6.15 million hectares) in 2002-2003. Barren and uncultivable land was 1.44 (4.61%) million hectares in 2002-2003. Permanent pastures and graining land in 2003-2004 was 1.39 (94.49%) million hectares. Land under tree crops and groves was 0.019 million hectares. Cultivable wasteland in 2002-2003 was 1.21 million hectares, i.e., 3.94% of the total land. Total wasteland that was not available for cultivation was 1.62 (5.27%) million hectares. Current fallow land in 1993-1994 was 0.349 million hectares and in 2002-2003 it was 0.99 million hectares. Old fallow land in 1993-1994 was 0.58 million hectares and in 2002-2003 it was 0.62 million hectares. Gross cropped area was 19.09 million hectares in 1993-1994 and in 2002-2003 it was 18.18 million hectares. The percentage of net irrigated area in 1993-1994 was 28.6% and in 2002-2003 it was 30.7% of the total area in Madhya Pradesh.

Consistency, Growth Rates and Decomposition Dynamics of Agricultural Production, production and productivity, agriculturally predominant, pulses, oilseeds, food grains, post-economic reform, Special Economic Zones (SEZs), technology-based growth, gricultural growth, rural development.