The State Of Agriculture In India Is Only Going From Bad To Worse

Context: The 3^rd series of Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) for 2018-19 report shows a massive decline in agriculture sector of India.

Issues in Indian agriculture: Highlights from Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) 2018-19 report

• Income uncertainties: Average income of an agricultural household increased in real terms, but,
  • This was mainly on account of higher wage incomes, which rose 6.7% per annum.
  • More than 90% farmers during July 2018-June 2019 reported real income declined of 1.3%.
• Fall in net investment: Due to decline in income, net investment in 2018-19 was less than half of that in 2012-13.
• Huge agri-dependence: Large proportion of rural households are still engaged in agriculture, out of which, large proportion are dependent on crop production.
• Rise in input costs: Especially, of energy and fertilizer prices yet farm-gate prices for a majority of crops have either declined or remained stagnant.

Conclusion: There is need to reverse the trend of a structural transformation in India’s economy. Though the need of the hour is to protect the real incomes of farmers.