Doubling Farmers Incomes by 2022

The opposition is confused and disbelieving on this issue. Is it about nominal incomes or doubling of living standards? Will it better BJP's pledge of 50% surplus over costs? After all, the agricultural growth rate is around 3-4%, farm holdings are shrinking and deficits and surpluses, both are a blight on farming.

Major themes ✒
1. Big focus on irrigation
2. Soil health card for balanced nutrients
3. Provision of quality seeds, scientific & IT support
4. Warehousing, cold chains and value addition by food processing
5. National farm market— e-linked and accessible to all
6. New improved crop insurance
7. Promotion of ancillary activities— poultry, honey, fisheries, biofuels, wind & solar power, small manufacturing, other jobs.

Some Methods
¶ Ponds, better assets under NREGA, pond aquaculture
¶ Micro-irrigation for water guzzlers, to conserve and redistribute water
¶ Expedite dams & channels, river-linking, barrages, raised water levels
¶ Pulse MSP
¶ Soil health card, neem coated urea, adequate supply of urea
¶ Private participation in seeds, automation, disease free.
¶ Regular release of improved domestic seeds, reduced costs, e.g. Bt cotton
¶ Interest subventions, other financial inclusion schemes
¶ Zero or 5% GST on most agri-goods
¶ Scaling up rural roads program, faster logistics, e.g. e-tolls, scanners
¶ Breaking local cartels, adding storage, cold chain, food processing, food irradiation
¶ E-agriculture, expert outreach incl video demonstrations, Kisan TV
¶ Comprehensive crop insurance
¶ Low cost/ free solar or efficient electric irrigation pumps, new electricity connections
¶ Mechanisation, zero tilling and crop residue harvesters
¶ Fisheries package incl deep sea fishing support, aquaculture
¶ Promoting & certifying organic farming in NE, help in exports
¶ Setting up 2nd gen ethanol and/or biogas + organic fertiliser plants
Govt has a 7-point strategy to double farmers' income: Prakash Javadekar