This means that normal monsoons are actually delivering less water than in the past. This may not be of great significance for regions that are subject to heavy rainfall, but in parts of the country, particularly in the central regions, this kind of decline may be contributing to water scarcity and, consequently, keeping productivity stagnant. Notably, pulses comprise a significant crop in these regions.
In short, to add to all the other hindrances to productivity growth, long-term water availability will also potentially play a role. Let me now wrap up the lecture by highlighting two key points made in the lecture and then drawing out some policy implications.