Strategies to Increase Income of Rice Farmers in India

Using cost of cultivation data on rice for the period 1980–81 to 2013–14, the paper has studied the trends in input-use and profits from rice cultivation in different states of India. The study is based on the frontline demonstration data collected from various publications of Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad and different ministries of Government of India. The study has reported region-wise and state-wise comparison of input-use, effectiveness of MSP, and profits from rice cultivation. The eastern region is lagging far behind northern and southern regions in fertilizer and machine labour use. The return from rice cultivation is either low or negative in the eastern states in comparison to northern states like Punjab and Haryana. The support price is not at all effective in eastern region. The yield gaps for rice estimated for different states and rice ecosystems vary from 15 to 24 per cent. Various strategies to increase the yield of rice, reduce the cost of cultivation and risks in rice farming, bridging the yield gaps, and development of infrastructure like markets and storage space have been discussed for different regions of India, especially for the eastern states, which will help in increasing income from rice cultivation.