Mains Practice Questions

Approach

• HIghlight some measures and focus areas in the Agricultural sector by Government.
• Highlight some ongoing challenges and issues in the sector.
• List out some measures to overcome the challenges.
• Conclude with the need for holistic measures.

Introduction

Farm Sector employs the majority of India’s economic force and to reduce vulnerabilities of those dependent on it, a target of doubling farmer’s income by 2022 has been envisaged by India through various means like PM-KISAN, Fasal Bima Yojana, reforms in the marketing sector, direct benefit transfer etc. Still, various challenges lie ahead.

Body

Challenges

• The disparity in sector’s expenditure and growth drivers like despite higher growth in livestock and fisheries sector, only moderate to low expenditure was recorded.
• Low expenditure in research and development, nearly 0.4% of GDP.
• Operational and Structural issues with Farmers and Producers Organisation due to numerous Acts and Agencies.
• Low participation of the private sector.
• Lack of affordable technologies and small scale investment avenues.
• Lack of convergence and congruity among regulatory organisations, especially at state level.

Measures to overcome vulnerabilities

• PM-KISAN will encourage farmers to invest some or all part of the income support in productive assets for achieving the multiplier effect in the sector.
• Expenditure on Research and Development needs to be raised to 1% of GDP.
• Blockchain-based e-marketplace will lead to better and accurate price discovery, leading to rising income of farmers and expanded market for agro-based products.
• Extending CSR to the farm sector with focus on small investments in clean and affordable sustainable technologies and solutions will attract private investment along with increasing farm efficiency and productivity.
• Subsuming regulations under a single organisation like National Agricultural Development Council at national level and Farmers Welfare Organisations at state level.

Conclusion

Not limiting to these measures there is a need for a mix of measures ensuing price, market, insurance, investment, environment and social aspect of the sector.