Doubling farmers’ income is vital for inclusive growth and rural prosperity. Though targeted for 2022, progress has been uneven. By 2023–24, average farm household income was about ₹12,000–13,000, with less than 40% from cultivation, highlighting dependence on non-farm sources and allied activities.

Major Challenges

1. Economic Barriers
   1. High input costs for seeds, fertilizers, energy, and mechanization reduce profit margins.
   2. Institutional credit coverage remains skewed toward large farmers, leaving smallholders dependent on informal lending.
   3. Most states are still 20–25% short of the original doubling target.
2. Climate Risks
   1. Rainfed crops face yield declines of 15–18% annually, while irrigated crops see 4–6% reductions due to floods, droughts, and heatwaves.
   2. Income volatility increases, discouraging long-term investments.
3. Structural Constraints
   1. Over 85% of farmers operate on less than two hectares, restricting economies of scale.
   2. Fragmented supply chains, lack of cold storage, and weak logistics result in post-harvest losses.
   3. Market distortions and opaque price discovery reduce farmers’ bargaining power.
4. Policy and Institutional Gaps
   1. Schemes often function in silos, with weak integration across income support, infrastructure, and extension services.
   2. Agricultural extension services are inadequate, limiting adoption of climate-smart and tech-based solutions.

Multi-Pronged Strategy

1. Income Enhancement
   1. Ensure timely and universal disbursement of PM-KISAN for liquidity support.
   2. Promote Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) for collective bargaining and economies of scale.
   3. Encourage crop diversification, integrated farming, and allied sectors (dairy, fisheries, poultry) for risk mitigation and steady income flows.
2. Climate and Resource Resilience
   1. Expand irrigation under PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) with focus on water-use efficiency (drip, sprinkler).
   2. Invest in climate-resilient seeds, weather advisories, and local contingency plans through ICAR and NICRA.
   3. Strengthen crop insurance (PMFBY) with better coverage and simplified claim settlements.
3. Infrastructure and Market Reforms
   1. Upgrade e-NAM for transparent trading, better logistics, and interstate movement.
   2. Expand rural cold chains under Operation Greens and invest in rural processing units to reduce wastage.
   3. Improve connectivity through PM Gram Sadak Yojana and promote decentralized food processing for value addition.
4. Institutional and Knowledge Support
   1. Strengthen agricultural extension services with digital advisories, AI-based weather forecasting, and training.
   2. Improve credit access for small and marginal farmers through priority sector lending and digital inclusion.

Doubling farmers’ income is both an economic necessity and a social imperative for sustainable rural growth. Progress in some states shows potential, but nationwide success needs an integrated approach, linking income support, climate-smart practices, market reforms, and institutional innovations, to build a resilient and prosperous agrarian economy.