This study refers to the agricultural growth patter in the more and less developed regions of peninsular India during 1955/56-1978/79. The effective use of factor analysis for planning appropriate strategies is empirically demonstrated. The main feature of the study is the use of factor analysis for two distinct periods of development in the two regions. Differential rates in agricultural growth were mostly due to the imbalanced pattern of factor mix. Agricultural growth was led by irrigation and associated variables, while rainfed technology has yet to contribute to agricultural growth. Less developed regions owed their slower rate of growth in the earlier period to lack of appropriate policies to exploit their irrigation potential and provide associated services.