There has been deceleration in agricultural growth. This deceleration is the root cause of the problem of rural distress that reached crisis in some parts of the country. Farmers find themselves into crippling debt due to low farm incomes combined with low prices of output and lack of credit at reasonable prices. This has led to widespread distress migration.
Economic reforms have not been able to benefit the agricultural sector because:

1. Liberalisation has forced the small farmers to compete in a global market where prices of goods have fallen while removal of subsidies has led to increase in the cost of production. It has made farming more expensive.
2. Various policy changes like reduction in import duties on agricultural products, removal of minimum support price and lifting of quantitative restrictions have increased the threat of international competition to the Indian farmers.
3. The export-oriented growth has favoured increased production of cash crops rather than food grains. This has increased the prices of food grains.
4. Public investment in agriculture sector especially in infrastructure which includes irrigation, power, roads, market linkages and research has been reduced in the reform period.