Agricultural intensity refers to the degree of input application (labor, capital, technology, fertilizers, irrigation) per unit of land to maximize output. It is often measured by cropping intensity, which is the number of crops grown on the same piece of land in a year, or by the yield per unit area. High agricultural intensity implies intensive farming practices aimed at increasing productivity from limited land resources.

In India, agricultural intensity shows significant regional variations. The Indo-Gangetic Plains (Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal) exhibit very high intensity due to fertile alluvial soils, extensive irrigation facilities, high population density leading to small landholdings, and advanced farming techniques. Here, multiple crops like rice, wheat, and pulses are grown annually. Coastal plains and river deltas also show high intensity, especially for rice cultivation.

Medium intensity is observed in parts of the Deccan Plateau and some central Indian regions, where irrigation is less developed, and farming relies more on monsoon rainfall. Low intensity is characteristic of arid and semi-arid regions (e.g., Rajasthan, parts of Gujarat), hilly and mountainous areas (Himalayas, Northeast India), and rain-fed plateau regions. Here, physiographic constraints, limited irrigation, and subsistence farming practices result in lower input use and fewer crops per year.