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| Discussion in Progress |
With more
than 50% of India’s rural population depending on Agriculture for their
livelihood, it plays an important role in India’s economy. Despite various
attempts by different governments to make agriculture self-sustainable, the
condition of the farmers still remains dire. Of the numerous schemes to help
the farmers, only a small fraction of the intended beneficiaries feel the
impact.
More than
80% of the farmers are small and marginal farmers owning as less as two acres
of land. High dependency on monsoon and increasing input cost, makes farming
economically unprofitable for them. Lack of last mile institutional credit
linkages forces them to depend on middlemen leading them to further
exploitation.
Although the
Centre & State governments have devised several incentives and welfare
schemes for these smallholder farmers but lack of awareness, illiteracy and
poor accessibility, prevent them from reaping the benefits meant for them.
The
Agriculture sector in India today faces various long standing problems and
challenges – costly farm inputs, lack of proper irrigation system and
dependence on monsoon, lack of storage facilities and crop insurance.
To discuss the
policy interventions and status of agriculture sector in India, GPPI-CPR
organised an interactive discussion on “Challenges Facing Indian
Agriculture” on 10th March 2016. The
discussion was co-chaired by Mr. Prem Das Rai, MP, and Mr. Shiv Kumar Udasi,
MP.
Mr Harish
Damodaran, Rural Affairs and Agriculture Editor, The Indian Express
and Dr. Tushar Shah, Senior Fellow, Colombo based International Water
Management Institute, were the speakers for this discussion. The speakers
presented a broad understanding on how the agriculture sector has evolved in
the country economically, in terms of production, prices, outputs etc.
over the past one decade; focus of 2016 budget on farm policies and challenges.
Also what kind of interventions need to be carried out in terms reforms, budget
and policy initiatives. The discussion also engaged with the
evolution, practice and model of irrigation in Indian Agriculture through
the example of states such as Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Further,
the discussion provided an understanding of how welfare schemes such
as Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayee Yojana
(PMSKY) should be refocused and reformed for improved & better
developments in agriculture sector.
