Despite the fact that there are positive aspects of transformation in agriculture in India and other developing countries, there are also issues pertaining to agricultural transformation. There is lack of proper access to modern technology leading to unequal performance in agriculture in many regions. In some areas, agricultural intensification is so large and difficult to cope up with local environment. The soil
loses carrying capacity with excess use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and insecticides. Moreover, water and air pollution causing environmental degradation is noticed. Further, mechanisation has replaced large number of unaccounted agricultural labourers. In some other areas, the access to modern technology is
very limited. In these regions, agriculture is characterised as low productive and less intensive and even does not suffice household requirement. Since the mode of production has changed in agriculture from household labour to hired labour, agriculture is presumed to be non productive and non profitable in many parts.
Further land issues are taking place rapidly with partition and transfer of land, land alienation, illegal encroachment, etc. Land acquisition for development projects is taking place in alarming pace despite many hue and cries. Millions of hectares of land are being acquired for industrial growth, major hydro power and mining projects, wild life sanctuary, and development of real estate sector, road and other
infrastructure, etc. Therefore, displacement issues become prominent in some parts of developing countries. This issue of displacement is acute in many tribal areas causing livelihood insecurities for millions of farmers and landholders. Rapid industrial growth is demanding supply of raw materials from agriculture as well.
Thus in large chunk of agricultural fields, crops are grown for industrial requirements rather than full filling the requirements food security. In India, the establishment of Special Economic Zones, a model inherited from China has put abundant pressure on land and environment in recent time.
Tenancy and landholding issues remain critical even after six decades of independence. The tenancy laws are not successful despite laws and acts provide support for tenants in many states. There is no maintenance of records about tenancy in many states. Furthermore, concealed tenancy is taking place in states where tenancy is completely banned. Similarly, ceiling laws do not act in proper manner to restrict landholding beyond ceiling limits. There are no proper land records maintained despite introduction of modern approach in the area of land records management. Many areas in tribal belts are not surveyed either. Therefore, the creation of land records is not possible. The land reforms laws in tribal areas though restrict transfer of land from tribals to non tribals in scheduled areas, the illegal transfer of land, land alienation, and land acquisition take place in the scheduled regions displacing tribals in large scale. Further, due to restriction in transfer of land in the tribal areas, the concept of land market relation remains stagnant.
The effect of the new economic polices such as liberalisation, globalisation and privatisation agriculture is apparent. Contract and corporate farming being practiced in many areas. Though liberalisation is still restricted Indian agricultural sector the wide liberalisation in allied sectors and moderate liberalisation in agricultural sector has affected sustainability in agriculture. There are problems foreseen in the backdrop of contract and corporate farming or in other high intensive agricultural practices. These are: tenancy insecurity, soil adaptability and soil regeneration capacity, water and air pollution, issues of agrarian structure, etc.