about agricultural distress
Answers
Answer:
agriculture distress means the underlying reasons for agrarian distress in India are many ranging from unviable agriculture caused by the low productivity, unfavourble term of trade for agriculture, higher incidence of indebtedness among the farmers leading to unfortunate incidences of farm suicides etc.
Explanation:
The last two years have been filled with images of farmers protests by the way of dumping vegetables by the roadside and resorting to distress sales of grains and pulses.
Reasons :
Poor policy and Planning: In the past, Government strategy primarily focused on raising agricultural output and improving food security rather than recognising the need to raise farmer’s income,
Absence of direct measure to promote farmers welfare.
Declining average size of farm holdings: Increasing demographic pressure, disguised employment in agriculture and conversion of agricultural land for alternative uses, have drastically reduced the average land holding.
Dependence on rainfall and climate: Indian agriculture is heavily dependent on monsoon and ever-increasing global temperature has made agriculture more prone to extreme weather events.
Collapsing farm prices: Low global prices have affected exports and the cheaper imports have hurt domestic prices in the country.
Lack of easy credit to agriculture and dependence on money lenders.
Fragmented supply chains:
Large gaps in storage, Cold chains
Limited connectivity
Absence of marketing infrastructure
Lack of Mechanisation: Introduction of latest technology has been limited due to various reasons like accessibility for credit and low awareness.
Crop production is always at risk because of pests and diseases.
Shortage of inputs like seeds and irrigation facilities.
Deficiencies in Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMC) Act.
Profiteering by middlemen.