Helping to make Bale analogy unproductive (4)
I believe the answer is:
lean
'unproductive' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'helping to make bale analogy' is the wordplay.
'helping to make' indicates a hidden word.
'LEAN' can be found hidden inside 'bale analogy'.
(Other definitions for lean that I've seen before include "Wiry" , "bank" , "skinny" , "Slim; veer" , "Slope; thin" .)