India, being an agrarian economy, has a significant portion of its population dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. However, the income levels of farmers have often remained stagnant or low, leading to distress among the farming community. In this context, the Government of India set an ambitious goal to double farmers’ income by 2022. This article delves into various strategies and initiatives taken to achieve this target, with relevant examples from the Indian context.
Introduction
The agricultural sector in India faces numerous challenges such as low productivity, high input costs, inadequate access to credit, and market volatility. Doubling farmers’ income requires a multi-pronged strategy addressing these challenges while promoting sustainable and profitable farming practices.
Key Strategies for Increase the Income of Farmers
1. Enhancing Productivity
- Technology Adoption: Productivity can be significantly increased by promoting high-yielding varieties (HYV), precision farming equipment, and modern agriculture equipment. Punjabi farmers, for instance, use laser levelers and combined harvesters. This has led to increased efficiency and productivity.
- Water Management Water-saving irrigation technologies such as sprinkler and drip irrigation will optimize the use of water and improve crop yield. PradhanMantri Krishi Sinchayee Yajana (PMKSY), which aims to increase the area covered by irrigation and enhance water usage efficiency, is aimed at extending this area.
- Healthy Soil: Soil health can be improved by using balanced fertilizers and conducting regular soil testing. Farmers can access information about soil composition through the Soil Health Card Scheme. It also provides recommendations on nutrient management.
2. Diversification Cropping
Increased income for farmers can result from switching to higher-value crops, such as medicinal plants, fruits and vegetables. Farmers in Haryana have seen their incomes increase significantly when they switch from traditional rice and wheat farming to horticultural crops.
3. Value Addition & Processing
- The Food Industry: Food processing can reduce post-harvest losses, and add value to the agricultural products. In India, grants are available to help set up food-processing units under the Mega Food Park Scheme.
- Agribusiness Clusters: Agribusiness clusters are a great way to improve market links and give farmers direct access with processors and customers. Nashik’s cluster of grape growers is an example, where farmers have benefitted from improved infrastructure and pricing.
4. Market Reforms
- e-NAM: By integrating the current APMC markets, e-NAM aims to establish a unified market in which agricultural commodities are sold. The farmers can now access more markets and obtain better prices for the products they produce.
- Contract farming: Encouragement of contract farming will provide fair and assured prices for farmers. Model Contract Farming Act is a tool that facilitates agreement between the farmer and buyer.
Credit and Insurance
For farmers to mitigate risks and boost their income, they need access to crop insurance and affordable credit. PM-Kisan provides farmers with income support, and PMFBY offers them crop insurance.
6. Allied Activities
- Animal husbandry and fishing: Promoting dairy farming and fishing can increase the income of farmers. Rashtriya Gokul Mission is a project that aims at increasing bovine productivity, and supporting dairy farmers.
- Agroforestry: Integrating shrubs and trees into the agricultural landscape can generate additional revenue streams as well as environmental benefits. Sub-Mission on Agroforestry encourages farmer to adopt agroforestry.
Government Initiatives
In order to achieve the objective of double income for farmers, India has introduced several programs and schemes. They include:
1. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)
PMKSY is designed to improve water efficiency, increase irrigation coverage and boost agricultural income.
2. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
PMFBY offers comprehensive coverage for crop losses due to pests and diseases, as well as natural disasters.
3. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan)
PM-Kisan offers income support to small and marginal farmers of Rs. Small and marginal farmers receive an income support amounting to Rs.
4. National Agricultural Market electronic (e-NAM).
e-NAM integrates APMC markets throughout the country to create a unified market for agricultural products and ensure better prices for farmers.
The Way Forward
The goal to double the income of farmers is not easily achieved despite various efforts. They include:
1. Fragmented Landholding
India’s land fragmentation pattern hinders modern technology adoption and limits the scale of economies. Land consolidation can help to address the issue.
2. Market Access
A large number of farmers are still unable to access competitive markets. They rely instead on local traders, who exploit them. Market linkages can be improved by strengthening market infrastructures and extending digital platforms.
3. Climate Change
Climate change is a serious threat to the productivity of agriculture. It can be mitigated by implementing climate-resilient agricultural practices and encouraging crop diversification.
4. Extension Services
Effective agricultural extension service is crucial to disseminating best practices and knowledge. By improving the quality and reach of extension services, farmers can make more informed decisions.
5. Policy Implementation
It is important to ensure that policies and programs are implemented effectively at the local level. Policy effectiveness can be improved by improving governance, accountability, and monitoring mechanisms.
Questions and Answers about Doubling Farmer’s Income
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What is the purpose of Doubling Farmer’s Income?
By 2022 the goal will be to double incomes of Indian farmers, which would ensure economic stability and prosper for India’s agrarian communities.
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How can technology help to increase agricultural productivity?
The technology plays an important role in maximizing efficiency and productivity by providing modern tools and equipment, such as precision farming and high-yielding seed.
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Crop diversification helps increase farmer’s earnings.
In order to increase your income, diversifying into crops with high value, such as medicinal plants, fruits and vegetables can yield higher returns.
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What is eNAM and what are its benefits to farmers?
e-NAM, the electronic National Agriculture Market is a platform digital that integrates APMC, allowing for farmers to have access to a wider range of markets and better prices.
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Crop insurance is important to farmers.
Insured farmers are protected against the loss of their crops in case of natural disasters or pests. This ensures that they have financial security.
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What actions has the government taken in order to encourage allied activity?
Rashtriya Gokul Mission, a mission for dairy farmers, and the Sub-Mission Agroforestry promote allied activities, such as fisheries and animal husbandry to boost farmer’s income.
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How can the market reforms double farmers’ income?
Market reforms, such as e-NAM or contract farming, provide farmers better access to the market, more fair prices, and a reduction in their dependence on middlemen.
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What are the challenges to doubling farmer’s income?
Climate change, fragmented landholdings, insufficient extension services and issues with policy implementation are all challenges.
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How can the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme (PM-Kisan), which supports farmers, help them?
The PM-Kisan program provides a yearly income support to small and marginal farmers of Rs. The PM-Kisan program provides an income support to marginal and small farmers of Rs.
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What can you do to improve agricultural policies’ implementation?
Strengthening governance and monitoring mechanisms along with building capacity on the ground can improve the effectiveness of agricultural policies.
The conclusion of the article is:
Double the farmers’ income is an ambitious but achievable goal in India. By combining the enhancement of productivity, diversification and adding value with market reforms and support for allied activities we can make significant progress. The government’s initiatives and policies can be stepping stones but only if they are implemented properly.
