ICS FA ICom Notes Class XI Principles of Economics Why does Law of Diminishing Returns apply to Agriculture? "Does it apply only to Agriculture?"

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Why does Law of Diminishing Returns apply to Agriculture?

The law of diminishing returns specially applies to agriculture and other extractive industries. One thing that is common to all these industries is the supremacy of nature. It is therefore often remarked that the part that nature plays in production corresponds to diminishing returns and the part which man plays confirms to the law of increasing returns. The reason is that, nature where it is supreme is subject to diminishing returns, while industry where man is supreme, is subject to increasing return. Besides the supremacy of nature, there are several other reasons why agriculture is subject to the law of diminishing returns.The agricultural operations are spread out over a wide area, and supervision cannot be very effective. Scope for the use of specialized machinery is also very limited. Therefore economics of large scale production cannot be reaped.

Does it apply only to Agriculture?

It is wrong to say that the law only applies to agriculture as agriculture is always subject to diminishing and manufacturing to increasing returns. The application of the law is universal. It applies to industries also. If the industry is expanded too much and becomes unwisely supervision will become tax and the cost will go up. The law of diminishing returns thus sets in. The only difference is that in agriculture it sets in earlier and in industry much later.