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Doubling Farmers' Income in Gujarat State: Challenges and Way Forward

Akin to Green Revolution of the late 1960s, doubling farmers' income by 2022-23, over the 2016-17 income levels, has become the watchword of the current agricultural policy scenario. Gujarat is among the top few states in India where doubling or improving farmers' income within the targete...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Productivity (New Delhi) 2018-01, Vol.58 (4), p.420-430
Main Authors: Swaminathan, B, Shiyani, R L, Ardeshna, N J
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Akin to Green Revolution of the late 1960s, doubling farmers' income by 2022-23, over the 2016-17 income levels, has become the watchword of the current agricultural policy scenario. Gujarat is among the top few states in India where doubling or improving farmers' income within the targeted year is in the realm of possibility. The State's agricultural growth rate has never been short of seven percent throughout the last decade. The farm income sources are also well diversified as farmers derive sizeable incomes from both crop and animal sectors. With 53 percent of its work force dependent on non-farm operations, small-scale industries and enterprises are also flourishing in the rural areas. The state tops the charts in milk production as well. Fisheries sector has been identified as the sunrise sector and it is expected to contribute further to the farmers' income basket. Micro-Irrigation and Soil Health Card schemes are being well implemented in the State and the water conservation efforts through construction of over 1.25 lakh check dams and water distribution efforts through intra-state river linking have already started paying dividends. To top that all, Gujarat is both pioneer and leader in harnessing solar energy for irrigation purpose. That is why, the average farm household income in Gujarat as of 2013-14 was found to be a healthy Rs. 8,000 per month. However, on the other hand, per household median farm income was just above Rs. 2,500 per month. This could only refer that most of the small and marginal farmers, who form 80 percent of the farm households in the State, have yet to attain income parity. Thereby, the interventions required to improve and sustain farmers' income need to focus on inclusiveness in such a way that even the small and marginal farmers should derive significant benefits. Accordingly, the present paper has included a host of 21 key strategies that have the potential in not only improving farmers' income in the State but also in actually doubling farmers' income by the targeted year of 2022-23.
ISSN:0032-9924
0976-3902