Doubling farmers’ income by 2022: possibilities and challenges

Two approaches to double farmers’ income are recommended by the scientific community on priority basis. First approach suggests efficient use of inputs and the second includes promotion of integrated farming system. Exploitation of technologies such as precision agriculture, protected cultivation, hi-tech irrigation systems (drip and sprinklers), grafting techniques, male sterility systems for hybrid seed production, nanotechnology, genome editing (alternate to transgenics), post-harvest handling are recommended to increase agricultural productivity in a sustainable manner. The promotion of these technologies through policies and support from public institutions would help in increasing the prosperity of farmers. The fixation of minimum support price for crops must be decided based on the price index of agricultural inputs. The financial and private institutions could also play an important role through lenient policies. The triangle of scientific, government and farmer efforts along with the support of financial and private sector needs to be strengthened for achieving the said goal.