Farm Income in India: Myths and Realities

The Green Revolution resulted in spectacular advancements in Indian agriculture. Having achieved food security for its citizens, the country has now become a net exporter of different agricultural commodities. But sadly, this does not reflect the real state of the Indian agricultural sector. In truth, our farmers are plagued by crop failures, poor income, and indebtedness. Such is their misery that they are of late driven to commit suicide.
In this book, the author identifies poor returns from crop cultivation as the root cause of farmers' problems. Using vast temporal and spatial data, the author explores further and attempts to address some very pertinent questions facing Indian agriculture today: What is the current trend in farm income? Are the returns from irrigated crops better than un-irrigated crops? Does increased productivity guarantee increased income? Has the agricultural price policy benefitted farmers? To what extent does rural infrastructure development help in increasing farm income? Has the rural employment guarantee scheme affected farm profitability? The answers will help us determine if we can double farm income by 2022-3, a target set by the present union government.

A. Narayanamoorthy, Professor, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India

A. Narayanamoorthy, former member (official), Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices, Government of India, New Delhi, is presently senior professor and head of the Department of Economics and Rural Development, Alagappa University, Tamil Nadu, India.