explain how stagnation in production food crops is a major challenge faced by Indian agriculture
Answers
The NDA government has a promise of doubling farmers’ income by 2022, which does not seem to be in sight, at least at present. Looking at the woes of poor farmers and the voting pattern in the recent assembly elections, it seems mere sloganeering and empty promises would not convince farmers. Perhaps, based on this realisation, our finance minister had asserted that the central government needs a fresh strategy on issues pertaining to waiver of agricultural loans and MSP etc before the general elections of 2019 and also assembly elections in the four major states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Chhattisgarh this year. It must be understood by political parties that measures such as loan waivers, free or subsidised fertilisers, water, seeds and electricity, which many state governments have resorted to in the past for creating vote banks, do not help poor farmers to overcome their financial problems on a permanent basis. Rather, such steps are harmful to our economy in many ways. Thus, let us scientifically and seriously analyse the root cause of poor farmers’ distress.