AGRICULTURE

What is Agriculture?

• Agriculture is the art and science of cultivating the soil, growing crops and
raising livestock.
• It includes the preparation of plant and animal products for people to use
and their distribution to markets.
• Agriculture provides most of the world’s food and fabrics.
• Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock
• Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human
civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses
that enabled people to live in cities
• The history of agriculture began thousands of years ago.
• After gathering wild grains beginning at least 105,000 years ago, nascent
farmers began to plant them around 11,500 years ago.
• Sheep, goats, pigs and cattle were domesticated over 10,000 years ago.
• Plants were independently cultivated in at least 11 regions of the world.
Industrial agriculture based on large-scale monoculture in the twentieth
century came to dominate agricultural output, though about 2 billion people
still depended on subsistence agriculture.
Types of Agriculture

● Subsistence agriculture

The exponential population increase in recent decades has increased the

practice of agricultural land conversion to meet the demand for food which in
turn has increased the effects on the environment. The global population is
still increasing
and will eventually stabilize, as some critics doubt that food production, due
to lower yields from global warming, can support the global population.
Agriculture can have negative effects on biodiversity as well.
Organic farming is a multifaceted sustainable agriculture set of practices
that can have a lower impact on the environment at a small scale.
However, in most cases organic farming results in lower yields in terms of
production per unit area.
Therefore, widespread adoption of organic agriculture will require additional
land to be cleared and water resources extracted to meet the same level of
production .
A European meta-analysis found that organic farms tended to have higher
soil organic matter content and lower nutrient losses (nitrogen leaching,
nitrous oxide emissions, and ammonia emissions) per unit of field area but
higher ammonia emissions, nitrogen leaching and nitrous oxide emissions
per product unit.

● Regenerative agriculture

Proponents of regenerative agriculture use a variety of sustainable

agriculture techniques in combination.Practices include recycling as much
farm waste as possible and adding composted material from sources outside
the farm. Regenerative agriculture on small farms and gardens is often
based on philosophies
like permaculture, agroecology, agroforestry, restoration ecology, keyline
design, and holistic management.
Large farms are also increasingly adopting such techniques, and often use
"no-till" and/or "reduced till" practices.
As soil health improves, input requirements may decrease, and crop yields
may increase as soils are more resilient against extreme weather and harbor
fewer pests and pathogens.

The world of agriculture has certainly changed drastically over the course of
the last century.
These changes continue to grow and expand, especially with the rise of e-
agriculture in recent years.
e-agriculture is defined as the implementation of Information and
Communications Technology to promote agricultural development.
Harnessing technological advancements in the agriculture industry has
indeed benefited agribusinesses.
But the benefits seen around the world don’t stop at the businesses
themselves — the implementation of e-agriculture is offering many benefits
to the environment at large as well.
Advantages and Challenging in E Agriculture

Wireless Technologies
• Intruders – Strategically placed farm security cameras will capture
images of anyone entering the property. This coverage helps to ensure that
only authorized workers gain access to the farm and its facilities.

• Protect water supplies – A well-protected water supply is critical to

agricultural operations. Farm security cameras can play an important role in
protecting this highly- sensitive area.
• Prevent break-ins – Implementing farm security cameras around your
property can deter break ins. For those intruders who look past the cameras,
the surveillance footage can capture them in the act.
• Deterring theft – Farm security cameras in areas such as holding pens,
calving pens, tool shops, and gates will help to prevent thieves from stealing
animals and equipment.
• Monitor daily operations – Security cameras can also ensure that daily
operations such as milking and feeding run smoothly.
• Employee monitoring – Video surveillance can be used to monitor
employee behavior so that critical farm operations are properly carried out.
• Remote playback and monitoring – With an IP-based surveillance
system, farm owners can monitor their property remotely. Footage can be
stored digitally and easily searched in cases requiring visual evidence.
Major Challenges are

● Vandalism and tampering

If a farm security camera is vandalized or tampered with, the
signal could be lost. Consider vandal-proof housing for cameras
located in high-risk areas.
• Weather
Weather-proof cameras might be required for certain locations. Farm
surveillance can pose challenges for cameras not equipped to handle low
temperatures and changing weather conditions.
• Global positioning System
The development and implementation of precision agriculture or site-
specific farming has been made possible by combining the Global Positioning
System (GPS) and geographic information systems (GIS). These
technologies enable the coupling of real- time data collection with accurate
position information, leading to the efficient manipulation and analysis of
large amounts of geospatial data. GPS-based applications in precision
farming are being used for farm planning, field mapping, soil sampling,
tractor guidance, crop scouting, variable rate applications, and yield
mapping. GPS allows farmers to work during low visibility field conditions
such as rain, dust, fog, and darkness.
● Battery life of GPS devices
Having a short battery life may limit the time you can spend in the
field. It may also be a safety issue if you get lost. It’s great to have a GPS
device but if flat it’s not useful – although the last location can still be
monitored.Keep in mind this isn’t an issue for products that are used in
vehicles etc that have alternative battery or power sources.
● Inaccuracy
While GPS works around the globe – and often to meter accuracy –
there are certain locations where it doesn’t work well. For example a canyon
in the middle of a forest; or if you are surrounded by tall buildings (often
referred to as an urban canyon). At these locations the signal may bounce
and your exact location may be difficult to ascertain.
● Cost
While not really a disadvantage, as the cost of many GPS devices has
reduced significantly and more importantly they can save you or your
business money, high quality GPS devices still cost good money. This start-
up costs may be a negative to many companies looking to invest in the
technology.A GPS device is only as good as the mapping it uses. Most high
quality devices – such as the ones we sell – use state of the art, accurate
and high quality mapping. Unfortunately there are also several inferior, or
shall we say cheaper, products which use low grade mapping. This has the
potential to create inaccuracies when using the devices.
● Automated System
Automatic milking systems are computer controlled stand alone
systems that milk the dairy cattle without human labor. The complete
automation of the milking process is controlled by an agricultural robot, a
complex herd management software, and specialized computers.
Automatic milking eliminates the farmer from the actual milking
process, allowing for more time for supervision of the farm and the herd.
Farmers can also improve herd management by using the data gathered by
the computer. By analyzing the effect of various animal feeds on milk yield,
farmers may adjust accordingly to obtain optimal milk yields. Since the data
is available down to individual level, each cow may be tracked and
examined, and the farmer may be alerted when there are unusual changes
that could mean sickness or injuries
● Expense
The initial investment to integrate automated robotics into your
business is significant, especially when business owners are limiting their
purchases to new robotic equipment. The cost of robotic automation should
be calculated in light of a business’ greater financial budget. Regular
maintenance needs can have a financial toll as well.
● Expertise
Employees will require a training program and interact with the new
robotic equipment. This normally takes time and financial output.
In the past, it was difficult for farmers to correlate production
techniques and crop yields with land variability. This limited their ability to
develop the most effective soil/plant treatment strategies that could have
enhanced their production. Today, more precise application of pesticides,
herbicides, and fertilizers, and better control of the dispersion of those
chemicals are possible through precision agriculture, thus reducing
expenses, producing a higher yield, and creating a more environmentally
friendly farm.

What is solar energy

● Solar energy means collecting the radiation from the Sun capable of
producing heat, causing chemical reactions, or generating electricity.
● The total amount of solar energy incident on Earth is vastly in excess
of the world’s current and anticipated energy requirements.
● If suitably harnessed, this highly diffused source has the potential to
satisfy all future energy needs.
● In the 21st century solar energy is expected to become increasingly
attractive as a renewable energy source because of its inexhaustible
supply and its nonpolluting character, in stark contrast to the finite
fossil fuels coal, petroleum, and natural gas.
● The Sun is an extremely powerful energy source, and sunlight is by far
the largest source of energy received by Earth, but its intensity at
Earth’s surface is actually quite low.

● This is essentially because of the enormous radial spreading of

radiation from the distant Sun.
 ● A relatively minor additional loss is due to Earth’s atmosphere and
clouds, which absorb or scatter as much as 54 percent of the incoming
sunlight

Uses of solar energy

Solar energy is commonly used for solar water heaters and house
heating.
The heat from solar ponds enables the production of chemicals, food,
textiles, warm greenhouses, swimming pools, and livestock buildings.
Cooking and providing a power source for electronic devices can also be
achieved by using solar energy.

Thermal energy

Among the most common devices used to capture solar energy and convert
it to thermal energy are flat-plate collectors, which are used for solar heating
applications. Because the intensity of solar radiation at Earth’s surface is so
low, these collectors must be large in area.
Even in sunny parts of the world’s temperate regions, for instance, a
collector must have a surface area of about 40 square meters (430 square
feet) to gather enough energy to serve the energy needs of one person.

Electricity generation
Solar radiation may be converted directly into electricity by solar cells
(photovoltaic cells). In such cells, a small electric voltage is generated when
light strikes the junction between a metal and a semiconductor (such as
silicon) or the junction between two different semiconductors.
The power generated by a single photovoltaic cell is typically only about two
watts.
By connecting large numbers of individual cells together, however, as in
solar-panel arrays, hundreds or even thousands of kilowatts of electric
power can be generated in a solar electric plant or in a large household
array.
The energy efficiency of most present-day photovoltaic cells is only about 15
to 20 percent, and, since the intensity of solar radiation is low to begin with,
large and costly assemblies of such cells are required to produce even
moderate amounts of power.
 ● In a planet ravaged by the COVID-19 epidemic, demand for safe
and healthy food is now on the rise, making it an ideal time to
seize a win-win scenario for farmers, buyers, and the
environment.
● Changes have also occurred in the local food chain. Despite the
fact that many farmers have faced hardships as a result of
restaurant and market shutdown or prohibitions, there is
undeniably an increasing demand for fresh items from local
sources.
● Consider developing a buying or selling organic food ecommerce
marketplace for farmers and suppliers to enable local producers
to interact directly with customers or restaurants (B2B
agriculture marketplace).
● During the epidemic, many farmers chose to go digital to
overcome challenges and improve their businesses using
ecommerce app development companies.
● This article is created for the producers who have decided to go
online in order to increase sales volume.
● This blog covers everything an entrepreneur (who may or may
not be a farmer) needs to know about creating an online
producers’ marketplace, from the business concept to the must-
have elements.

Importance of farmers

● Farmers are simply called the ‘Backbone of India’. They are the most
useful people as they provide food.
● They never stop their work even during heavy rains and sunny days.
Farmers work hard the whole day.
● People from all the religions like Hindu, Christian, Islam and Sikh live
in India and are engaged in various occupations, but agriculture is the
main occupation. Indian Farmers have the ability to survive with the
various seasons, climate change, soil conditions and often harsh
destruction of wildfires, droughts and floods.Now people are eating
fresh fruits and vegetables because of them, everyone should respect
farmers.
 ● Farmers sow seeds then cultivate crops and supply food-grains to the
people.
● Agriculture is an important part of every country, as they are also one
of the major contributions to economic growth. The government
should be concerned for our agriculture heroes.
● People should give more support and respect to the farmers but the
government couldn’t help them.
● Be it the smallest or the largest country, because of farmers only we
are surviving on the planet. Thus Farmers are the most important
people in the world.
● Though, farmers have so much importance still they do not have
proper living.Farmers have great importance in our society.
● They are the ones who provide us food. Since every person needs
proper food for their living, they are a necessity for society.

Promoting agriculture every day

The staff and 4-H volunteers facilitated small group discussions and
challenged the participants to think about how their actions might be
perceived by others who do not interact with agriculture on a daily basis,
other than through the food they eat. This process resulted in not only ideas,
but education and awareness for both the adult and youth groups.
● crops. The more visual and/or interactive an exhibit can be the better.
Members can have fun working together on posters, tabletop displays,
demonstrations, videos, building a model or developing a game or
scavenger hunt to showcase their agriculture messages.
● Being available to speak with the public about agriculture. These
conversations can range from a youth contacting local businesses to
engaging with attendees at public events, to giving presentations at
community meetings, at school or other youth programs. Business
owners and community leaders are interested in knowing what youth
learn through their participation in agriculture experiences and peers
and the public often have many questions and misconceptions about
food production and day to day practices on a farm. Sitting around the
lunch table at school can provide a great setting for agriculture
education.
● Sharing agricultural information through school assignments, articles
in school and community newspapers, blogs, Facebook, Twitter,
 Instagram and other social media. 4-H members have volunteered to
write blogs about life on their farm and some share an Ag Fact of the
Week via school announcements.
● Hosting or volunteering at agriculture education events such as
Breakfast on the Farm, Ag Awareness Days, Project RED (Rural
Education Days), open houses/field trips, events to educate policy
makers, farmer school visits or food tasting events.
What is Inter crop fertilizers

Intercropping is the practice of growing two or more crops in proximity.

The most common goal of intercropping is to produce a greater yield on a

given piece of land by making use of resources that would otherwise not be
utilized by a single crop is called Intercropping.

Advantages of inter cropping

● Fertility, the ability of the soil to maintain plant growth, is very well
maintained.
● It is one of the natural ways to control pests.
● the resources are used well.
● The best advantage is growing two or more crops at the same time
and space.
● The maximum amount of nutrients in the soil is used.

Crop Rotation

Crop rotation is the practice of cultivating a variety of crops in the same

location over the course of several growing seasons.

Advantages of crop rotation:

● The soil fertility is well preserved.

● Weeds and pests are not allowed to grow.
● The use of chemical fertilizers is reduced.
● The properties of soil are untouched.
Solar Irrigation System

Solar-powered water pumping systems can find application in town water

supply, livestock watering, and irrigation.
The solar-powered irrigation system is an application of a solar-powered
water pumping system used in paddy fields, and gardens for watering
plants, vegetables, etc.

Advantages of a Typical Solar Irrigation System

● It makes Irrigation Possible In Remote Areas.

● Is Environment Friendly.
● No Grid Connection Is Required.

What is automatic watering system

Automatic irrigation is the use of a device to operate irrigation structures so

the change of flow of water from bays can occur in the absence of the
irrigator.

Automation can be used in a number of ways: to start and stop irrigation

through supply channel outlets. to start and stop pumps.

Benefits of an Automatic Watering System

Both sprinkler and drip irrigation systems can be set so as to provide exactly
the right amount of water for the plants in your polytunnel. Such a system
can be far less wasteful when it comes to water. An automatic system can
help save water because:

● Just the right amount of water will be released. (Unlike when you hand
water, when you can easily use more water than you need.)
● The water will be directed to exactly where it is needed. (Unlike with
hand watering, when you can easily waste water by splashing it
around where plant roots cannot retrieve it easily).
● An automatic shut off can help to keep water usage to a minimum.
Saving water and gardening in a water-wise way is one of the steps you can
take towards a more sustainable garden system. If your water is metered,
this can save you money too.
If you set up your automatic watering system to run on natural rainfall, this
will be even better for your plants, and you can potentially save even more
water and perhaps even more money.

An Automatic Watering System Will Save Time

One of the other main benefits of an automatic watering system is that it

can save gardeners a lot of time. In summer, watering by hand can be an
extremely time-consuming process.

You will usually need to water at least once a day, sometimes more, in hot
weather. Many gardeners simply do not have the time to keep up with this
chore.

If you have a full time job, you may wonder how on earth you could ever
make the time to maintain a polytunnel garden and grow your own food. But
with an automatic watering system, maintaining a polytunnel will take far
less time.

What is more, even if you do usually have the time to water by hand, an
automatic watering system can be useful for when you wish to go away.

When you are not there to spend the time watering your polytunnel, an
automatic watering system can be set in advance to do the job for you while
you are on holiday or traveling for work.

An Automatic Watering System Will Save Gardener Effort

Such a system will not only save the gardener time, it will save them effort
too. Watering by hand can be not only time consuming but also tiring.
Maintaining a garden can take a toll on the body. If you struggle sometimes
to find the energy to make the effort to water, weed, hoe, mulch, and
harvest, then an automatic irrigation system could be just what you need to
take some of the effort out of gardening and make it seem like fun again!
Gardening can be a wonderful exercise – good for body and mind. But taking
a little of the strain away can help this valuable and healthy pursuit feel like
a joy rather than a series of chores.
Automation is one, simple way to make things easier. Water Can Be Directed
To Where It Really Needs To Be.

As mentioned above, an automatic watering system will save water by

making sure that the water is directed to where it really needs to be. While
sprinkler systems can be good for certain applications, sometimes a drip
irrigation system that delivers water right at soil level, or below, where it can
be taken up by plant roots, can be the best idea.

Water is taken up through roots beneath the soil, and so watering from
above can sometimes mean that plants do not get that water before it
evaporates in the sun. By directing water to the base of your plants, you can
ensure that less water is wasted and more can be taken up by your plants.

Another thing to bear in mind is that when you water erratically from above,
you risk increasing the likelihood of certain plant diseases. For example,
when the foliage of tomato plants gets wet, it is more likely to succumb to
blight. Certain mildews can also be more likely to take hold if you water
foliage rather than roots.

Water Can Be Delivered At Optimal Levels For Plant Growth

In addition to making sure that plants get water where they need it, the
right automatic irrigation system can also make it easier to make sure that
plants get the quantity of water that they require.

By delivering a consistent water supply for plants – not too much and not
too little – such a system can increase the yield from your polytunnel by
creating the conditions necessary for optimal plant growth.

Watering by hand can often lead to inconsistency in plants’ water supply.

Watering too much can cause water logging or nutrient leach, while watering
too little can increase plant stress. Both watering too much and watering too
little can cause problems with the plants you grow in your polytunnel. Both
can mean that they do not grow as well as they should, fail to thrive, or
even die.

An automatic irrigation system can cut out a range of such problems and
make it easier to get a good harvest from your polytunnel – whatever the
temperatures and conditions may be.

An Automatic Watering System Can Reduce Weeds

By making sure that water is directed to exactly where it is needed, a

carefully designed automatic irrigation system can also reduce the number
of weeds that you have to contend with.

Weeds can often spring up to take advantage of errant watering that was
provided soil moisture in gaps between plants.
Weeds can often spring up to take advantage of errant watering that was
provided soil moisture in gaps between plants.

By watering only at the base of plants, you can ensure that they grow
strongly, and prevent the formation of weak or weakened plants which can
be more easily outcompeted by weeds. What is more, with less water going
to waste, there will simply be less water available for any interloper plants.

What is more, when plants are getting exactly the right amount of water in
exactly the right way, they can grow strong and, if you spaced plants
correctly, grow to cover the available soil surface. Ensuring good plant
coverage of growing areas can also help keep down weeds.

An Automatic Watering System Can Protect the Soil Ecosystem

It is not only people and plants that can benefit from an installation of the
right watering system. When implemented correctly and appropriately, an
automatic polytunnel watering system can do far more. In addition to
making life easier for the gardener and ensuring that their crops thrive, such
a system can also help to protect the whole ecosystem of the soil.
The topsoil in your growing areas is a precious resource. It is vitally
important to take care of it in whichever ways you can. The soil is a web of
living organisms, nutrients and minerals.
Without the soil, we could not sustain life on this planet. There are a number
of different things that can damage the soil ecosystem – excessive
disruption through digging and tilling, pollution with harmful chemicals… But
even organic, no-dig gardeners can inadvertently do harm to the soil by over
or under watering.
With an automatic watering set up, gardeners can avoid the nutrient
leaching, water run-off and erosion, soil baking and other problems that can
come with getting the watering wrong. Avoiding these issues is just one
important step gardeners can take to protect the precious soil in their
polytunnel.

As you can tell from the above, there are plenty of reasons to choose
an automatic system for watering plants in a polytunnel. But it is important
to make sure that you select the right system for you and your specific
needs. Do you have tips or suggestions to share regarding the right
automatic watering system for a particular type of polytunnel garden

Why is the management system important in agriculture?

Farm management is essential for farmland owners to maximize

annual ROI and long-term capital appreciation. Any farmland should increase
in value and produce annual income to land owners, but with progressive
farm management, landowners can expect much higher profitability.

Characteristics of a Successful Farm Manager

● Organized and skilled in managing farm activities.
A successful farmer always knows how many work hours were spent
on each farm activity, field and farm season. ...
● Open-minded to new technologies.
Technology is taking over agriculture. ...
● Data-driven manager.

FARM CROP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (FCMS)

● Farm Level Intervention

● Narrowing down the yield gap
● Essentially takes care of small and marginal farmers
● Maximizing the income
 Increasing the return from factors of production – land and water.
Paradigm shift from area based to farm based FCMS project started with
Bench mark in Eight districts up-scaled to the entire state

FCMS –FARM LEVEL APPROACH PLANNING –

● Micro level zonation
● Baseline Asset mapping
● Soil Health Mapping
● Crop Matrix INTERVENTION
● PRODUCTION LED
● Crop Health monitoring
● Extension
● Mobile Advisories
● Complete Hand-holding
● Grower Clusters & FPOs
● Online Benefit tracking system
● Online booking of Farm Machineries MARKET LED
● Agriculture Market Intelligence and Business Promotion Centre (AMI
BPC)
MICRO AGRO CLIMATIC ZONATION
Tamil Nadu grouped into seven Macro Agro climatic zones based on
rainfall.
This broader grouping is not precise to provide bouquet of options to
farming.
Micro Weather parameters obtained from Automatic weather stations located
at block level - to delineate the Micro Agro Climatic zone.

BASELINE ASSET MAPPING

Baseline asset mapping contains Personnel, Contact, Bank, Group, land,
Plantation, Farm Machineries, Wells, Micro Irrigation, Fodder crop,
Sericulture details and Farm animals, Fisheries, agro forestry details and
other information for integrating the Farming System.

With data on Factors of production - land, water and Climate Paradigm shift
from area based approach to farm based approach Increasing the
productivity by benchmarking the potential yield, maximum yield and
average yield at village, block, district and state.
Integration of knowledge base and Asset base.
Of the total 81.18 Lakhs farm families in Tamil Nadu baseline asset mapping
of about 68 Lakhs farm families was done.

SOIL HEALTH MAPPING

● Soil type - individual farm soil characteristics - physical and nutritional
● Soil samples collected from all the farm lands in the last 3 years o
Individual farm visit, village level collection by ATMA Farmers Friend
and Agri college students, Mass campaign through Farmers festival
(Uzhavar Peruvizha)
● Micro Agro climatic zone-wise information displayed through GIS made
available for decision making at farm level.
● 68 lakhs Soil sample collected – o Micro and Macro Nutrient tested and
data uploaded
● 45 lakhs Farmer Integrated Hand Book distributed containing major
and micro nutrient availability and fertilizer recommendations, benefits
availed – valid for 3 years

CROP MATRIX
Development of crop matrix - particularly based on the Climate, Asset and
Soil – physical and nutritional status
Season wise crop matrix - for most desirous Agricultural and Horticultural
crops
Bouquet of options provided to farmers in descending order- based on
profitability and resource availability Crop-wise, season-wise matrix provide
–Technology, Cultivation practices, Input requirement. Requirement of
critical inputs at the farm level consolidated timely availability ensured by
integration with input agencies.

CONTINUOUS CROP HEALTH MONITORING

Field level functionaries monitor crop health periodically and upload the data
using Tablet PCs enabled with 3G, GPS, GPRS, 5MP back camera
Constant interaction by the field level functionaries through o Scheduling of
visits to each revenue village on specified days o Pest and Disease
monitoring of Biometric observation o Yield assessment o Personalized
Advisories on Crop Plan, input, interventions required at critical stages and
Market information by integrating SMS Portal EXTENSION.
Field functionaries of agriculture and horticulture wing are visiting the
villages on fixed days
PICO projector used for effective dissemination of path breaking
technologies to homogeneous Commodity Group – 174 Nos. distributed
Linking KVKs/Research stations for knowledge sharing through Video
Conferencing facilities created in Tablet PCs
Mobile advisories – text and voice on critical activities as per crop plan and it
is the gateway to interact with the server
All in one touch kiosk- general information, maximum yield , potential yield,
technologies, crop plan for his field, input dealers, success stories- 125 Nos.
distributed Crop Doctor – helps the farmer himself to diagnose the crop
health related issues and the solutions thereof.
Five crops covered were deployed o Paddy, Ragi, Sugarcane, Coconut and
Banana
These information are available in PACCS, Panchayat Union and Panchayat
office
Tele crop health management o Farmers can upload the affected symptoms
photo for remedial advisories from the experts in research stations and
TNAU scientists

MOBILE ADVISORIES
• Advisories are provided on Input availability, Weather and Market –
14.88 crore text advisories and 2.1 crore voice advisories given
• The market forecast are given both Local and state level
• The advisory services are integrated with SMS portal facilitating the
field level functionaries to provide customized information to the farmer.

INTEGRATION WITH KISAN SMS PORTAL

Our FCMS portal is integrated with Kisan SMS portal Personalized messages
are being delivered to the farmers by the field level functionaries using
Android Tablet PCs.

COMPLETE HAND-HOLDING
• For complete hand holding - through technology transfer - knowledge
enrichment –
• 4500 Field Level Functionaries sensitized on use of ICT Gadgets
• Awareness created among Farmers and Farmer Friend on FCMS
concept during Farmer Festival (Uzhavar Peruvizha)
ONLINE BENEFIT TRACKING SYSTEM
• Transparent identification of most desirable beneficiaries
• Tracking the impact of benefits accrued
• Previous year beneficiaries and sustaining of the benefits
• Capturing the demonstrating effects
• All the 880 Agricultural Extension Centres in the State went online

GROWER CLUSTERS & FPOs

• Clustering the growers of selected crops for adoption of frontier
technologies
• Adoption of Improved cultivation practices as a cluster o These Grower
Clusters are federated at higher level to form FPOs
• Knowledge enrichment – for Selected crops technology – o Cultivation
practices - o Input management – o Crop health management – o Pre and
Post harvest information
• Extension worker contacts farmer individually - in the farm itself -
informing the crop plan and market trend - as advised by the marketing to
opt for the ensuing season

YIELD MONITORING AND PRODUCTION ASSESSMENT

• To link it with market suggesting advisory on – Advancement and
Postponement of harvest of harvest based on weather condition – Getting an
indication for arrivals of quantity and quality – To give advisories on demand
at various markets to establish link between grower and buyer
e-Licensing
• About 12,000 seed dealers and 17,000 fertilizer and pesticide dealers
• Applying and issue of license goes on line

Harvest Management System (PHMS)

Implementation of PHMS is proposed. About 350 nos of mandis are
proposed under hub and spoke model for fair market practices in the state.
Funds proposed as per the guidelines contained in NeGP-A.
Rs. 85000 for computer infra and connectivity per node for 345 nos (280
RMs and 65 Market Complex) Rs. 281
If you were to promote e- marketing , how would you do that?

● SELL IN REGULAR MARKETS

When you are dealing with agricultural products, reach out to the markets
that usually run on the weekend rather than on regular days. This is the
most effective tool for marketing agricultural products because the customer
base is set. You just need to find the tactics to lure them to come for your
products. You will definitely be able to increase the sales and enhance your
agro-business.

● JOIN GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATIONS

This is the most viable plan to enhance your agro-business sales as

government associations membership is a cost-efficient way to hold a big
market share for a product. These associations are generally beneficial to
small farmers, as the government association takes over the responsibility of
marketing an agro-business. From advertising to buying, they handle all the
work. Moreover, they sell farmers’ products by increasing the price, which
eventually increases the profits of a farmer. It is advisable to get registered
to these associations as this is one of the effective marketing strategies for
agro-business, which should be followed to increase the sales.

MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT

INCENTIVES

As agricultural equipment is quite expensive, farmers find it very difficult to

afford them. The government has taken steps to increase the involvement of
participants in the marketing process by providing incentives to small
farmers using numerous marketing strategies for agro-business. Have a look
at some of them:

● Training and re-training of farmers

● Distribution of fertilizers and pesticides
● Provision for improving seed quality
These steps increase the participation of farmers to market their agricultural
products and result in enhanced agro-business sales.

SCHEMES

Along with the incentives, the government has taken another initiative to
increase marketing for agricultural products and equipment. The
government has come forward with schemes to help small farmers. Some of
the schemes are as follow:

● Soil health card scheme

● Interest subvention scheme
● National agricultural market

Collaborating with these schemes to sell the agricultural equipment, may

help increase sales.

COLLABORATION WITH GOVERNMENT

Collaboration with the government is one of the best marketing strategies

for agro-business. It helps the traders, farmers and middlemen as the
government takes up responsibilities and comes up with programs beneficial
for them. This provides the farmers with an opportunity to indulge in new
techniques and strategies to market their agricultural products.

SET APPROPRIATE PRICING

When dealing with agricultural equipment, try to make your customers feel
that you are here for everybody and not for a certain class of people. Don’t
be the seller who only caters to those who have big pockets and set the
pricing appropriately. Try to be as approachable as you can to develop trust
and reputation among people. The more you try to form a specific customer
base, the more people will feel distanced from you, ultimately affecting your
sales and marketing strategies for agro-business of yours.

These were some essential ideas on marketing for agricultural products and
equipment, which are targeted to enhance your agro-business. These
marketing strategies for agro-business should be put into use for effective
and great results in sales by attracting a huge customer base.

PROMOTING FARMERS MARKETS

Farmers markets are a wonderful source of fresh, local foods. They are
instrumental in connecting consumers to local farmers and agriculture,
contributing to the health of community members, combating the obesity
epidemic, and revitalizing communities.

To be successful, farmers markets must be adequately promoted to their

communities. Promotional efforts should include basic logistical information
regarding the markets (market dates, times, locations) as well as the
benefits the farmers markets offer to their communities.

To do that need to follow these steps:-

● Understand Your Customers

Customers shop farmers markets to buy fresh foods, to support local farms,
or simply to enjoy the festive atmosphere. Among your first steps should be
identifying your customers and why they visit their farmers mark.

● Customize Your Messages

Once you understand your customers, you can then tailor your marketing
messages to meet their needs. Customizing your messages is the best way
to maximize your marketing impact.

some easy, low-cost ways to promote your farmers market

● CAPITALIZE ON THE “GREEN MOVEMENT”

Host special events at your market focusing on topics related to the green
movement. These could include lessons on composting, information on
recycling, or demonstrations on water conservation.
 ● INVOLVE YOUTH

Work with your local 4-H clubs to host events similar to those found at state
and county fairs. Events could include judging of produce or livestock,
cooking/ baking demonstrations, or other educational demonstrations.

● FOCUS ON HOME FOOD PRESERVATION

Partner with your local Family and Consumer Sciences Extension agent to
offer educational demonstrations or informational displays on canning,
freezing and drying foods.

● OFFER COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS

Invite local chefs or restaurant owners to prepare a dish (or meal) using
foods from the market. Offer free tasting samples and distribute copies of
the recipes.

How can you best advertise your market?

● WORD-OF-MOUTH

The most effective promotion remains old fashioned, word-of-mouth

marketing. The best way to foster successful word-of-mouth marketing is to
make certain your farmers market customers enjoy their experience. A
satisfied customer will feel compelled to tell others about their experience.

● ONLINE ADVERTISING

Online advertising offers an easy and inexpensive means of promoting the

farmers market. Consider creating a Facebook page for your farmers
market. Send a newsletter via email to market customers to keep them
informed about upcoming events and featured items. The newsletter can
also be used to introduce customers to vendors. Offer coupons, discounts
and special promotions through the newsletter. These discounts will
encourage customers to sign up for the newsletter.
 ● ADVERTISE LOCALLY

Blanket your community with information related to the farmers markets.

Consider partnering with local restaurants, coffee shops, churches, and lawn
and garden centers to see if they will display signs or flyers about the
farmers market at their businesses. Signs/flyers should include the dates,
times and locations of the market. Advertising should feature an overview of
the market’s products and vendors.

BOOST AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA

● Adopt new technologies

This depends on various factors such as socioeconomic conditions,

geographical conditions, crop variety, and irrigation facilities, etc. The role of

technology in agriculture can have various applications by way of use of

modern farming machines, improved seed varieties, application of fertilizer/

pesticides, genetic engineering, etc. This will result in increased productivity

by preventing soil degradation, using water efficiently, and reducing the use

of chemicals. These factors will create a direct benefit in enhanced quality,

quantity, and cost reduction.

● Enhancing Soil Quality

With indiscriminate use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, this

endemic problem plagues agriculture. The goal to enhance the productive

potential of soil through emphasis on its physics and microbiology will

include the design of chemical interventions (macro and micronutrients).

Particular emphasis is needed in arid areas.

● Irrigation Augmentation and Management

The agriculture sector is the largest consumer of water in India. But

limited water availability leads to increasing competition between industry,

domestic use, and agriculture. An immediate need is to plan and manage

water in river basins to achieve a synergy in consumption on a multi-sectoral

basis. This calls for augmenting supply through rainwater harvesting,

recharging aquifers, and renovation of existing wells and ponds. Demand

management should receive priority through improved irrigation practices,

including sprinkler and drip irrigation. This will require a water literacy

movement and regulation for the use of groundwater to achieve a

conjunctive use of rain, river, ground, sea, and treated sewage water.

● Agri-Credit and Crop Insurance

Reform in this area is key to enhancing small farm productivity. Easy

and affordable credit must be made available through official channels for

farmers that typically rely on private moneylenders. Risk mitigation by way

of crop insurance requires immediate reform. The speed and the mechanism

of this process requires policymakers to create innovative solutions that

balance the financial system with farmers’ needs.

Efficient Markets

The importance of opportunities for assured and remunerative sale of

produce will ultimately determine the economic well-being and sustainability

of the farming sector. Market reform is a corollary of demand and supply

and must be linked to production planning and not merely with government-

led support interventions. The link between consumption and commerce

chains is key to long-term survival and growth of the farming community

Some few measures that will help boost agricultural development in India.

● Efficient markets

● Irrigation augmentation and management

● Agri-credit and crop insurance

● Adoption of new technologies

● Enhancement of soil quality

Boosting agricultural development in India requires major reform and a

strengthening of India’s agricultural research and extension systems. A diverse and

large country such as India has huge variations in agro-climatic and economic

conditions. A single strategy cannot be adopted across geographies to achieve agri-

development, which requires a major thrust in reform of agricultural research and

extension. These services are key in carrying the government vision to boost

agricultural development. Diversification of livelihoods through allied sectors, such as

animal husbandry, forestry, and fisheries, will help build resilience and lead to a

productive tomorrow.
Sustainable Agricultural Water Management:

Water is the most critical resource for development. The effects of this

resource can be felt not only in agriculture, but in areas such as industrial

and economic development and, most critically, on the environment. India’s

burgeoning population is facing a water crisis, fueled by unregulated and

unplanned exploitation and a “use and discard” policy.

Water as a resource in agriculture is also reaching a tipping point with the

constant challenge to feed and hydrate the ever-increasing population.

Climate change consequences related to water resources include increases in

temperature, shifts in precipitation patterns and snow cover, and a likely

increase in the frequency of flooding and droughts, thus affecting

agriculture. One estimate is that agricultural production needs to be scaled

up to double by 2050. With as much as 80% of freshwater being consumed

for agriculture, we must ensure that water resources are efficiently used to

achieve social, environmental, and economic benefits.

IMPORTANCE OF EFFICIENT WATER MANAGEMENT AND EFFICIENCY

IN FARMING

While the area under cultivation in the world has grown by around 12–
15% over the last fifty years, India has shown stagnation, or even a decline,
due to changes in land use, weather patterns, and dwindling farm incomes.
Changing weather patterns and erratic rainfall have also accounted for the
area under irrigation to go up substantially, with most coming from
groundwater extraction. The next contributor is freshwater from aquifers,
streams, and lakes. It is estimated that about 2–3 liters of water per capita
is sufficient for human consumption, and a whopping 3,000 liters is required
to produce the daily food requirements of one person. In India, more than
60% of water consumed for irrigation is taken up by sugarcane and paddy,
and this inequity places a lot of pressure on the water cycle. For all these
reasons, there is an urgent need to look at sustainable water management
in irrigation.

ISSUES AFFECTING THE WATER CYCLE

Climate and land management are responsible to a great extent in the

cyclical circulation of water through evaporation, transpiration, and

precipitation. The water cycle is a net effect zero, and thus finite.

● Scarcity of freshwater.

With 97% of the earth’s water in oceans, freshwater accounts

for only about 3% of the water available for agriculture and other

needs. Freshwater is the lifeline for forests and croplands. With about

60% of the precipitation returning back to the oceans, freshwater

availability is under pressure with increasing population and food

habits.

● Erratic rainfall
 India has traditionally depended on rainfall for its agricultural

needs. It is estimated that more than half of the cultivable area is

dependent on rainfall. With erratic weather and rainfall, the

dependence on groundwater and other sources for irrigation is on the

rise.

● Nutrient deficiency and indiscriminate fertilizer application.

Degradation of soil affects the ability of crops to effectively utilize

water in agriculture. Arid areas are deficient in primary nutrients like

nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium and also in micronutrients like sulphur,

zinc, and iron. Primary nutrient application by unaware farmers leads to

imbalance, and therefore to increased degradation. This imbalance leads to

inefficiency in water utilization and affects crop yields.

● Water Conservation. These practices have been neglected in India,

and we are now facing the consequences of this folly. Groundwater is

depleting rapidly. Rivers, once the lifeline of agriculture and

surrounding civilization, have dried up. “At present, we are only being

able to save 8% of the rainwater; this percentage needs to go up,”

Little emphasis has been placed on shifting to less water-intensive

crops, recharging aquifers, forestation, watershed development, or

rainwater harvesting.

SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT IN AGRICULTURE: SOME

PERSPECTIVES
India remains highly vulnerable to this water crisis in the coming years.

Affordable and efficient methods in water management will be key to

production of food and economic security for sustained livelihoods in both

irrigated and rain-fed scenarios.

So what are the solutions in an Indian setting? Can we look at achieving

food security without compromising on sustainable development goals?

The answer to the conundrum is to research, innovate, and disseminate

knowledge to our farmers to optimize the interaction between variables like

nutrients, water, and other agricultural inputs. Sustaining agricultural

production with increasing population and with existing or reduced water

resources is the mantra.

Some methods and initiatives that can help in water sustainability for

agriculture:

1. Adoption of Best Irrigation Practices.

With a dwindling supply for irrigation, proper technological and

resource and application management are needed for the efficient use of

water. Sustainable water management in agriculture can be achieved by:

● Reduction in water loss

● Use of efficient irrigation systems

● Better efficiency in increased water use

● Adoption of innovative irrigation methods and efficiency in fertilizer

application
 ● Reuse of marginal waters (saline water, wastewater, and runoff water)

for agricultural benefits

2. Improve Agricultural Practices. Improper soil management,

indiscriminate fertilizer application, and overuse of agrochemicals are

connected with sustainable water management and contribute to

deteriorating groundwater. Some efforts in these areas will go a long way in

achieving sustainable water management for agriculture:

● Tilling Practices. Soil surface tillage, contour tillage, conservation

tillage result in reduced erosion, improved hydration of soil and

maintenance of organic components in the soil.

● Mulching and increase of organic matter in soil. Advantages include

conservation of soil moisture, improved soil fertility, and reduction in

weed growth.

● Maintenance of soil acidity. Soil pH is referred to as the “master

variable” for soil, and it has effects in decreasing availability of plant

nutrients, increasing certain elements to toxicity, and degrading the

ecosystem for good bacteria, earthworms, and other organisms.

Proper maintenance of pH could improve crop development through

intensive and deep rooting and lead to higher soil water availability.

Hence soil acidity remediation needs to be looked at a local level in

detail through outreach and education.

3. Water conservation practices: In-situ and Off-site.

With a majority of Indian farming still dependent on the “rain gods,” it

becomes important to conserve and harness this important (though erratic)

resource. Agricultural use of water can be conserved on farms through

landform management, direct seeding of water intensive crops,

encouragement for fallow management, etc. Off Site conservation of water

for agriculture can be through water harvesting, recharge of aquifers, and

storage. Water harvesting and small water storage interventions have a

major role to play in the improvement of water availability, especially in

areas that depend on rainfed crops.

4. Policy Intervention and Integration.

The complex and diverse nature of water resource management in

Indian agriculture means that there should be flexibility in water policy

according to situations and regions. More flexibility is required with water

property rights and a robust framework is needed for sharing of water

amongst states with supporting infrastructure. Similarly, a clear policy

framework is needed for levying charges on the use of water resources and

electricity, particularly groundwater. When water stress is an issue, it

becomes all the more important for the farming community to understand

why water cannot necessarily be a free resource in the long run. However,

this is a contentious and politicized issue.

Making groundwater potable and fit for agriculture

In some parts of rural India, due to paucity of canal and municipal water,

groundwater is one of the major sources of supply. This is expensive,

sometimes contaminated and, above all, has led to a rapid depletion of the

water table, thereby exacerbating the water shortage problem. Collecting,

storing, and accessing clean drinking water has become a priority and

continues to be a challenge. With a limited water supply, irrigation and

human consumption often compete, and the sustainability factor in water

management takes center stage.

Due to the lack of perennial surface water, 78% of the Nuh district has

saline groundwater. Even the fresh groundwater is saline, which increases

with the depth. A few ponds that exist are used for domestic purposes and

cattle; however, being seasonal, they dry up as the demand peaks. This has

adverse effects on the social, economic, and environmental aspects of the

inhabitants. People have to purchase water or walk miles to fetch water to

meet their daily needs. Lack of potable water leads to a lack of hygiene and

sanitation, which lead to fatal diseases, especially in females. Due to water

scarcity, informal water markets thrive and, in spite of the high cost they

pay, the water quality is not guaranteed.

To tackle the problem of groundwater salinity, S M Sehgal Foundation

has developed and constructed innovative rainwater harvesting models for

the creation of freshwater pockets within a saline aquifer. In this model, the
structure (a recharge well) stores and recharges rainwater below the

groundwater table, as a freshwater pocket within a saline aquifer

(groundwater zone). The technology is environment-friendly, as the system

requires no use of chemicals or energy.

High-pressure recharge wells were installed by S M Sehgal Foundation and

the Millennium Alliance together in four schools in the water-scarce villages

of the Nagina block. Besides the installation, the villagers were made aware

of the project and the usage of the well so that they could adapt to it. Roof

rainwater harvesting with a modified design for recharge wells was used to

tackle the salinity problem.

The burden on children, who used to carry water bottles every day, was thus

reduced, and they gained free access to safe clean drinking water that

helped them be hydrated during school hours. Students and the local

residents accepted the fact that the water was safe for consumption and it

also tasted as sweet as the packaged mineral water available in the market.

The direct outcome has been seen with better sanitation and hygiene,

regular cooking of midday meals, and reduced dropout rates in girls. There

has also been an improvement in availability of clean water for irrigation

purposes.
WHAT ARE HIGH-PRESSURE RECHARGE WELLS?

High-pressure recharge wells and rainwater harvesting systems provide

freshwater in a saline aquifer. These are above-ground open cylindrical tanks

made of cement. Through the PVC pipes, rainwater on the rooftop is

channeled into the recharge wells. Since the tank is built above the ground,

pressure is created, enabling the harvested water to push aside the saline

water, thereby creating freshwater pockets within the saline aquifer.

NARNAUL RECHARGE PONDS

Another example of how rainwater harvesting is having a positive effect on

lives in rural India is the case of Narnaul in Mahendragarh district of

Haryana. The state of Haryana is well known for its farming and developed

agriculture. The inhabitants of this region are highly dependent on its farm

produce. The groundwater level in Narnaul, Mahendragarh, was rapidly-

depleting, threatening the livelihood of the residents. The region’s distance

and disconnect from the town also played a major role in its adverse

condition. That is when S M Sehgal Foundation joined hands with HDFC Bank

to construct johads (redundant ponds) in the Sarelli and Panchnota villages.

This project aimed at bringing about a positive change by increasing the

water table in the region with Parivartan Pariyojana.

The locals said they had to wait long hours for the tankers. The cattle went

thirsty, thereby causing a reduction in milk output. After the johad was

constructed, two to three hours of heavy rainfall was sufficient to have the

pond overflowing, and lasted the villagers an entire year. More water in the

pond resulted in the ground seepage, recharging the water table and leading

to the increased level of groundwater. The depth and the diameter were

increased to collect as much water as possible to last for a longer duration

after the evaporation process. Even the wells in the adjacent villages

appeared fuller and fed more people than earlier. The spinoff effect was

undeniable.However, after the construction of the pond Johad, locals feel

more aware and confident regarding water management and its advantages.

With the agricultural community facing the challenge to increase food

production substantially, a sustained availability of crucial resources such as

water is important. With irrigation needs increasing in the times to come,

freshwater as a resource will be under pressure and may be diverted to

industrial and domestic use. With almost 30–40% of water used in irrigation

going unused, a concerted effort is required in policy, water allocation, and

management. The government must gear up on this critical and crucial

matter, and a synergistic effort is required on all fronts. After all, we do not

want any policy or ground-level inaction to be the genesis of water wars in

the future.
Modern agriculture has many complex challenges

Farming is a complex, unpredictable and individual business.Farmers

must meet the changing needs of our planet and the expectations of

regulators, consumers, and food processors and retailers.

There are increasing pressures from climate change, soil erosion and

biodiversity loss and from consumers’ changing tastes in food and concerns

about how it is produced. And the natural world that farming works with –

plants, pests and diseases – continue to pose their own challenges.

While modern agriculture provides a large number of solutions, the

outcome is not always the same because each farm is unique: different

landscapes, soils, available technology and potential yields.

Farmers need to deal with many problems, including how to:

● Cope with climate change, soil erosion and biodiversity loss

● Satisfy consumers’ changing tastes and expectations

● Meet rising demand for more food of higher quality

● Invest in farm productivity

● Adopt and learn new technologies

● Stay resilient against global economic factors

● Inspire young people to stay in rural areas and become future farmers
Farmers must adapt to climate change

The effects of climate change affect farmers’ ability to grow the food we all

need. Increasingly volatile weather and more extreme events – like floods

and droughts – change growing seasons, limit the availability of water, allow

weeds, pests and fungi to thrive, and can reduce crop productivity.

Soil erosion is reducing the amount of land available for agriculture, and

declining biodiversity affects the pollination of crops. At the same time,

farmers are under pressure to conserve water and use fewer agricultural

inputs.

As they adapt to these changes, farmers also need to mitigate the

greenhouse gas emissions contributed by agriculture through adopting

climate-smart practices – a new learning journey for many.

What steps have been taken by the government to improve the

agricultural system in India?
● Land reforms
● Tenancy reforms
● Regulation of higher rents
● Provision of credit to rural farmers
● Subsidies e.g Urea subsidy
● Food security act 2013
● Public distribution system
● Minimum support price and Procurement pricing system
Double Farmers' Income?

Past strategy for development of the agriculture sector in India has

focused primarily on raising agricultural output and improving food security.

The net result has been a 45 per cent increase in per person food

production, which has made India not only food self-sufficient at aggregate

level, but also a net food exporting country.

The strategy did not explicitly recognise the need to raise farmers' income

and did not mention any direct measure to promote farmers welfare. The net

result has been that farmers income remained low, which is evident from the

incidence of poverty among farm households.

Low level of absolute income as well as large and deteriorating disparity

between income of a farmer and non-agricultural worker constitute an

important reason for the emergence of agrarian distress in the country

during 1990s, which turned quite serious in some years. The country also

witnessed a sharp increase in the number of farmers suicides during 1995 to

2004 - losses from farming, shocks in farm income and low farm income are

identified as the important factors for this. The low and highly fluctuating

farm income is causing detrimental effect on the interest in farming and

farm investments, and is also forcing more and more cultivators, particularly

younger age group, to leave farming. This can cause serious adverse effect

on the future of agriculture in the country.

It is apparent that income earned by a farmer from agriculture is crucial to

address agrarian distress (Chand 2016) and promote farmers welfare. In

this background, the goal set to double farmers' income by 2022-23 is

central to promote farmers welfare, reduce agrarian distress and bring parity

between income of farmers and those working in non-agricultural

professions.

The concept and timeframe

Clarity on the following points is important to assess the possibility of

doubling the income of the farmers. The substantive points are:

1. what is the period and targeted year for doubling the farm income;

2. what is to be doubled, is it output, value added or income earned by

farmers from agricultural activities;

3. whether nominal income is to be doubled or real income is to be

doubled; and

4. whether the targeted income includes only income derived from

agricultural activities or would it also include income of farmers from

other sources.

It is obvious that the targeted year to double the current income of the

farmers or income for the agricultural year 2015-16 is by agricultural year

2022-23, which is seven years away from the base year 2015-16. And, if
anything is to be doubled by the year 2022-23, it will require an annual

growth rate of 10.4 per cent.

Again, it is important to clarify what is sought to be doubled. Is it the income

of farmers, or the output or the income of the sector or the value added or

GDP of agriculture sector? If technology, input prices, wages and labour use

could result in per unit cost savings then famers' income would rise at a

much higher rate than the output. In nominal terms, the output became

2.65 times while farmers' income tripled in the seven years period.

Therefore, doubling of farmers' income should not be viewed as same as

doubling of farm output.

It is obvious that if inflation in agricultural prices is high, farmers income in

nominal terms will double in a much shorter period. In a situation where

non-agricultural prices do not rise, or, rise at a very small rate, the growth

in farmers' income at real prices tends to be almost the same as in nominal

prices. The government's intention seems to be to double the income of

farmers from farming in real terms.

It is pertinent to mention that the latest data on number of cultivators is

available only up to the year 2011-12. Therefore, while calculating per

cultivator income, it is assumed that farm workers would continue their

withdrawal from agriculture at the rate observed during 2004-05 to 2011-

12. Presently, per cultivator income has been estimated as Rs 1,20,193 at

current market prices.

Sources of Growth in Farmers' Income

Doubling real income of farmers till 2022-23 over the base year of 2015-16,

requires annual growth of 10.41 per cent in farmers income. This implies

that the on-going and previously achieved rate of growth in farm income has

to be sharply accelerated. Therefore, strong measures will be needed to

harness all possible sources of growth in farmers' income within as well as

outside agriculture sector.

The major sources of growth operating within agriculture sector are:

1. improvement in productivity

2. resource use efficiency or saving in cost of production

3. increase in cropping intensity

4. diversification towards high value crops

The sources outside agriculture include:

1. shifting cultivators from farm to non-farm occupations, and

2. improvement in terms of trade for farmers or real prices received by

farmers.

Strategy for Improving Farmers' Income

The sources of growth in output and income can be put in four categories.

1. Development initiatives including infrastructure

2. Technology
 3. Policies and

4. Institutional mechanisms

Roadmap and Action Plan

The quantitative framework for doubling farmers income has identified seven

sources of growth. These are:

1. Increase in productivity of crops

2. Increase in production of livestock

3. Improvement in efficiency of input use (cost saving)

4. Increase in crop intensity

5. Diversification towards high value crops

6. Improved price realization by farmers

7. Shift of cultivators to non-farm jobs

Conclusion

The low level of farmers income and year to year fluctuations in it are a

major source of agrarian distress. This distress is spreading and getting

severe over time impacting almost half of the population of the country that

is dependent on farming for livelihood. Persistent low level of farmers

income can also cause serious adverse effect on the future of agriculture in

the country. To secure future of agriculture and to improve livelihood of half

of India's population, adequate attention needs to be given to improve the

welfare of farmers and raise agricultural income. Achieving this goal will

reduce persistent disparity between farm and non-farm income, alleviate

agrarian distress, promote inclusive growth and infuse dynamism in the

agriculture sector. Respectable income in farm sector will also attract youth

towards farming profession and ease the pressure on non-farm jobs, Which

are not growing as per the expectations.

Doubling farmers income by 2022 is quite challenging but it is needed and is

attainable. Three pronged strategy focused on

(i) development initiatives

(ii) technology

(iii) policy reforms in agriculture is needed to double farmers income.

● The rates of increase in sources underlying growth in output need to

be accelerated by 33 per cent to meet the goal.

● The country need to increase use of quality seed, fertiliser and power

supply to agriculture by 12.8, 4.4 and 7.6 per cent every year.

● Area under irrigation has to be expanded by 1.78 million hectare and

area under double cropping should be increased by 1.85 million

hectare every year.

● Besides, area under fruits and vegetables is required to increase by 5

per cent each year.

 ● In the case of livestock, improvement in herd quality, better feed,

increase in artificial insemination, reduction in calving interval and

lowering age at first calving are the potential sources of growth.

Research institutes should come with technological breakthroughs for

shifting production frontiers and raising efficiency in use of inputs. Evidence

is growing about scope of agronomic practices like precision farming to raise

production and income of farmers substantially. Similarly, modern

machinery such as laser land leveller, precision seeder and planter, and

practices like SRI (system of rice intensification), direct seeded rice, zero

tillage, raised bed plantation and ridge plantation allow technically highly

efficient farming. However, these technologies developed by the public

sector have very poor marketability. They require strong extension for the

adoption by farmers. R&D institutions should also include in their packages

grassroots level innovations and traditional practices which are resilient,

Sustainable and income enhancing.

ICAR and SAUs should develop models of farming system for different types

of socioeconomic and bio physical settings combining all their technologies in

a package with focus on farm income. This would involve combining

technology and best practices covering production, protection and post-

harvest value addition for each sub systems with other sub systems like crop

sequences, crop mix, livestock, horticulture, forestry. Such shift requires

interdisciplinary approach to develop on knowledge of all disciplines.

About one third of the increase in farmers' income is easily attainable

through better price realization, efficient post-harvest management,

competitive value chains and adoption of allied activities. This requires

comprehensive reforms in market, land lease and raising of trees on private

land. Agriculture has suffered due to absence of modern capital and modern

knowledge. There is a need to liberalise agriculture to attract responsible

private investments in production and market.

Similarly, FPOs and FPCs can play big role in promoting small farm

business. Ensuring MSP alone for farm produce through competitive market

or government intervention will result in sizeable increase in farmers' income

in many states.

Most of the development initiatives and policies for agriculture are

implemented by the States. States invest much more than the outlay by the

Centre on many development activities, like irrigation. Progress of various

reforms related to market and land lease are also State subjects. Therefore,

it is essential to mobilise States and UTs to own and achieve the goal of

doubling farmers' income. If concerted and well-coordinated efforts are

made by the Centre and all the States and UTs, the Country can achieve the

goal of doubling farmers' income by the year 2022.