Introduction * Mahatma Gandhi once said that the real progress of India did not mean simple the growth and expansion of Industrial Urban Centres but mainly the development of the villages * More than two-third of India’s population depends on agriculture * One third of rural India still lives in abject poverty.Meaning ¢ Rural development covers agriculture development as well as all those aspects which improve the living conditions of people in the rural areas. Rural development is a comprehensive process which targets betterment in all aspects of rural areas. Thus development agriculture implies improvement of rural areas.Rural credit needs According to Time Short term credit : loan ranges from 6 months to 15 months. To buy seeds , tools , manure, fertilizers, etc., Medium term credit : loan ranges between 15 months to 5 years. To buy machinery, equipment digging wills, constructing cattle sheds etc., Long term credit : loan ranges between 5 to 20 years . To buy tractors , land, heavy machines and equipment etc.,According to purpose * Productive purpose : this credit is required to enhance agriculture production ¢ Unproductive purpose : this credit is required to meet social obligations.Sources of rural credit Non — institutional sources * Moneylenders * Traders and commission agents * Landlords * RelativesInstitutional sources * Cooperative credit societies v¥ These contributes nearly 30% of the rural credit. ¢ Land development banks Y¥ The crdit is granted against the mortgage ¥ Long term creditInstitutional sources * Cooperative credit societies ¥ These contributes nearly 30% of the rural credit. * Land development banks ¥ The crdit is granted against the mortgage v Long term credit* Commercial bank credit * Regional rural bank ¥ To open the branches in those areas where there no banking facilities available ¥ To provide credit facilities to small and marginal farmers.¢ Self help groups ¢ National bank for agricultural and rural development (NABARD) Apex agency To promote the strength of credit institutions in credit delivery system To provide assistance in the non-farm sectors also To control and evaluate the projects financed by it It coordinates the functioning of different financial institution involved in advancing rural credit.Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMERM) February 21, 2016 Bridging the rural-urban divide Stimulating local economic development with emphasis on reduction of poverty and unemployment in rural areas Spreading development in the region Attracting investment in rural areas.Agricultural marketing system ¢ Agriculture marketing is a process that involves the assembling, storage processing, transportation, packaging, grading and distribution of different agriculture commodities across the country .Measures initiated by government Regulation of markets Provision of physical infrastructure Cooperative marketing Minimum support price Grading and quality control Dissemination of information.Problem of agricultural marketing in India Predominance of private traders Distress sale Lack of regulated markets Lack of infrastructural facilities Long chain of intermediariesSuggestions to improve the agricultural marketing system Government intervention should increase More of rural periodic markets should be developed There should be increased provision of more infrastructural facilities Abolition of intermediaries Provision of standardizing and grading Dissemination of market related information through electronic media New cooperative marketing societies Easy credit to the farmersAlternative Marketing channels * It has been realised that if farmers directly well their produce to consumers, it increases their income .Diversification in agriculture ¢ Aspect of diversification > Diversification of crop production ( change in cropping pattern) > Diversification of productive activities ( shift of workforce from agriculture to other allied activities and non-agricultural sector like live stock , poultry, fisheries etc.,)Tamil Nadu Women in Agriculture (TANWA)Non farm areas of employment Animal husbandry it provides stability in income, food security , transportation, fuel ad nutrition for the family 70 million small and marginal farmers provides alternate livelihood Poultry account for the largest share with 58% followed by others Diary sector over last 3 decades has been quite impressive Operation flood — milk produced according to different grading* Fisheries > Fish production from inland sources contributes about 64 % to the total fish production and the balance 36% comes from the marine sector > Today total fish production accounts for 0.8% of total GDP.* Horticulture > It contribute nearly one third of the value of agriculture output and 6% of GDP of India. > 2014-15 production of fruits and vegetables was around 87 million tons and 170 million tons respectively* Options Other alternative livelihood — increasing role of information technologyOrganic farming * Needed > It is an economic farming technology. It can be picked up by small and marginal farmers > There is urgent requirement to optimally utile our scarce resources so that they can be preserved for future generations too to promote sustainable development. > Conventional farming methods use chemical based fertilitsers and topic pesticides which deplete the soil and devastate natural eco system, so there is urgent need of an eco-friendly technology like organic farming.Benefits of organic farming Economical Generation of income Healthy food Environment friendly Generates employment Maintains natural eco-systemChallenges before organic farming Needs popularization Inadequate infrastructure and marketing Less output Shorter shelf life Limited choice in productionThank you