Doubling the real income of farmers in India by 2022

2016

Doubling the real income of farmers in India by 2022

What does this actually means, what will enable this, how feasible is this?
After battling to consecutive drought years, by the grace of Almighty monsoon this year is
progressing normal. The buzz around farmers, farmers welfare and doubling the income seems to
be picking up and rightly so!

Announcement in Union Budget

While presenting Union Budget 201617, the Union Finance Minister of India mentioned that one of
the objectives of the Government of India is to double the income of farmers by the year 2022.This
announcement was quite timely and probably driven by the rising of agrarian distress and the two
years of consecutive drought situation country has faced. The intent seems right, given the current
state of Indias agriculture and the plight of its farmers.
India is still an agrarian economy and a single bad monsoon takes toll on entire economy
Agriculture plays a vital role in Indias economy. Over 58 per cent of the rural households depend
on agriculture as their principal means of livelihood in India. Agriculture along with fisheries and
forestry, contributes to more than 16% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of country. Having said
this India still remains and agrarian economy and a single bad monsoon takes toll on entire
economy and can completely derail the projected growth plan.
However the growth in the agriculture sector in 2015-16 continued to be lower than the average of
the last decade. Data suggests growth in farm income after 201112 has plummeted to more than
1%, and has been reason for the sudden rise in agrarian distress in recent years. The 12th Five-Year
plan (2012-17) had targeted 4% growth rate, however the rate of growth of Agri GDP has been
around 2% against the 4 %. If by any measure agriculture has to grow at 4 % during the the 12th
Plan as projected, then Agriculture growth must accelerate to 8%, which means are going to miss
on 12 plan by quite a long distance.

Manoj Rawat | India | mkrawat@gmail.com

Doubling the real income of farmers in India by 2022

2016

Doubling the income of farmers by end of 13th Five year plan (2022)
While in the 12th Five Year plan we have seen the real farm incomes have plummeted as compared
to previous decade, it not wishful thinking that incomes of farmers can be doubled by adopting a
multipronged approach which efficient implementation framework.

Doubling the real income of farmers by 2022, on sustainable basis by laying focus on following
areas
1. Doubling (2X) the productivity, yield and efficiency in agriculture
2. Increasing area under irrigation to 60% including doubling (2X) the micro-irrigation
program
3. Double (2X) the flow of investment credit to Agriculture Sector under a value chain
approach
4. Doubling (2X) the Agro processing and value addition services sector
5. Double (2X) the income by creating a framework for market driven remunerative farm gate
price as also instituting suitable minimum support price mechanism to protect the interest
of farmers.
6. Double (2X) the investment in allied activities like livestock, poultry, beekeeping and
fisheries
7. Double (2X) the agriculture market efficiencies and curbing the number of existing
intermediaries to half ( 1/2 X) by expediting Unified National Agriculture Market.
To enable this "Agriculture needs to be liberated from traditional policy framework for it grow
and prosper. Effective implementation of policy initiatives will call for comprehensive reforms,
will and strong public, private and people partnerships in the management of agriculture in
India". The existing Public and Private sector investments, Government schemes and subsidies,
if dovetailed effectively and channelized efficiently can make this a reality.

What is real income of farmer which we wish to double?

The Economic Survey 2016-17 revealed that average income of a farmer in Rs. 1,670 per month
which can be doubled but does that mean that a farmer will getting remunerative price for farming.
We need to understand in an agricultural household crop cultivation provides on an average
provides 63% income and remaining comes from other sources. It is also important to recognize
that sizeable proportion of small and marginal agriculture households who undertake cultivation,
livestock activities and also have individual family members who are wage earners.

Manoj Rawat | India | mkrawat@gmail.com

Doubling the real income of farmers in India by 2022

2016

It is therefore important to realize that in addition to cultivation there are other income sources like
allied agriculture, means of wage earning that can contribute to doubling of income of agricultural
households.

Agriculture Credit Need to focus on creation of productive assets

One important question is how one can can double net investment in productive assets among the
small and marginal agriculture household. It is important to note that agriculture credit flow during
a period of 3 years from 2004-2007 and thereafter has shown significant growth. The projected
institutional credit flow to agriculture sector for year 2016-17 is Rs 900,000 crore ($135 Billion).

Agriculture credit is the most critical non-land input for development of Agriculture. Credit Flow
Policies to agriculture need to be more focused on capital investment in agriculture rather than just
ensuring continuity of agriculture by crop loans. The multiple studies seem to suggest that the
doubling of aggregate credit flows did not had any sizeable impact at the agriculture household
level income as also in creating productive assets. It is important to recognize that the flow of credit
for short term ( crop loan for continuing agriculture) and for long term ( for creating assets and
capital formation) will hold key to help farmers especially small and marginal to create productive
assets that generate sustainable income.
Is it wishful? Is it achievable?

Given the series of initiatives and reforms doubling the real incomes of agricultural households is
not a mere wishful thought. It is doable and has to be an area of top priority. Agriculture needs to be

Manoj Rawat | India | mkrawat@gmail.com

Doubling the real income of farmers in India by 2022

2016

liberated from traditional policy framework for it grow and prosper. Effective implementation of
policy initiatives will call for comprehensive reforms, will and strong public, private and people
partnerships in the management of agriculture in India. A sound Agriculture & financial policy can
bring lasting improvement in the country and can propel India to next Growth trajectory of 12%.
It is important to realize that India is poised to overtake China to become the world's most
populous nation by 2022, our farmers will have to gear up and toil harder to feed more than 140
billion mouths ( projected 2030), ploughing the same fragmented landholdings and depending on
the water resources which are steadily depleting.
Hope by 2022 our farmers should not be looking up to skies for our survival.
Its not just matter of farmers income but a matter of survival and food security of the country.
We have no other choice but to gear up !
For a sustainable, inclusive and preferred future!
Manoj Rawat
Head, Agribusiness Group
RBL Bank, Mumbai
India
mkrawat@gmail.com

The views expressed are purely personal

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Manoj Rawat | India | mkrawat@gmail.com