Question -
Answer -
Subsidy is an economic benefit, direct or indirect, granted by a government to domestic producers of goods or services, often to strengthen their competitive position against foreign companies.
It helps farmers to buy HYV seeds, fertilizers and other inputs. The burden of granting subsidies falls on the government. The government has to bear the burden of financing subsidies.
There is scope for improving the resource use efficiency by reducing subsidies and aiming them better to small farmers and regions lagging behind.