DOUBLING FARM INCOME

Remunerative farming is not a precondition for enriching farm community only but it is considered the biggest incentive to enhance the agricultural output, too. This is why enhancing farm income has emerged among the most immediate policy concerns for the government in recent times. Recently, a shift has been seen in the Government’s strategy towards the agriculture sector—from increasing farm output to increasing farm income. Aimed at doubling the farmers’ income by 2022 , the Government of India has announced a ‘seven-point strategy’. The details of the strategy are as given below:

(i) Focus on irrigation with bigger budgets aimed at ‘per drop, more crop’.

(ii) Provision of quality seeds and nutrients based on soil health.

(iii) Strengthening warehousing and cold chains to prevent post-harvest crop losses.

(iv) Promoting value addition through food processing.

(v) Creation of a national farm market, removing distortions and e-platform.

(vi) Mitigating risks at affordable cost through suitable kind of farm insurance.

(vii) Promoting ancillary activities like poultry, beekeeping and fisheries. Agri-experts together with the foremost Indian agriculture scientist M.S.

Swaminathan have appreciated this initiative of the Government. The challenge of doubling farmers’ income within the prescribed time frame is very much possible supported by a good strategy, well-designed programmes, adequate resources and good governance.