Empowerment of small and marginal farmers of Indian agriculture: prospects and extension strategies

Agriculture remains the mainstay of Indian economy and major source of livelihood of rural households predominantly by small and marginal farmers and securing the food and nutritional security. These farmers face several problems of credit, input supply, proper linkage with market and so on. Women farmers are lagging behind in adopting the drudgery reduction technologies followed by health and nutrition of farm families. Their livelihood can be enhanced by utilizing various strategies of information and communication technologies (ICTs), capacity building, combating climate change and increasing food production. A budgetary requirement also needs to be taken care. Marketoriented research and investment also needs to be increased to save our farmers from glut situation and fetching more income by adopting the concept of FPOs/FPCs in larger context.