India is majorly an agricultural dependent country from centuries. Greater than 60% of population depends on agriculture and its allied activities . Farming / Cultivation is crucial source of income and survival . Farming is not only their means of survival but it also fuels our sectors of economy(secondary and territory ).These farmers play a crucial role in growth of Indian economy.
Despite farmers being in large no. and farming being widely practised , there are troubling facts about Indian farmers. According to SECC( Socio Economic Caste Census ) 2011:
56% rural household dosent hold land.
30% source of income is cultivation.
75% peoples monthly income is <5000.
These rural areas are severly deprived of basic social infrastructure,still dependent on monsoon for good agricultural results ,which is unpredictable and cause unprecedented loss sometimes.
Indian Government and farmers
Government had played imperative roll in well being of farmers since independence and still continues to work for there socio- economic upliftment &development.
Various policy interventions and reforms had been taken up by Government of India to improve the well being conditions, such as:
- Five year plans (importance to Agri growth)
- Green revolution and Food Policy Act
- National policy for farmers 2007
- Food Security Act(FSA) 2013
- E-choupal in rural areas for procurement of Agricultural Products
- Agricultural credit by cooperative banks, commercial banks, regional rural banks etc.
- Agricultural insurance like PMFBY(Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna) & WBCIS.
- E-governance model like single unified market: E-nam and DBT(Direct Benificiary Transfer ) schemes for fertilizer and other subsidies.
- Rural infrastructural development by PURA, RURBAN, SMART GRAM PANCHAYAT etc.
Despite all these efforts conditions of farmers showed little improvement. What we need is to implement these schemes and efforts to ground level and providing last mile connectivity by enhanching,improvising institutional setup and monitoring the implementation of schemes.
Further, better understanding of farmers and their needs, and providing assistance to them will help in ensuring their development in upcoming decade. This will bring prosperity to farmers, its allied sector and will foster economic growth as well.