Supply Side Constrains in Production of Pulses in India: A Case Study of Lentil

In India, annual production of pulses ranges from 11 Mt to 15 Mt, with yield of about 600 kg/ha. Due to the wide gap between supply and demand, import of pulses has increased from 0.38 Mt in 1993 to 2.82 Mt in 2008. Lentil is an important rabi pulse crop with a production of 0.85-0.95 Mt in India, after gram. The study has used both secondary and primary data collected from on-farm demonstrations and farmers’ fields to examine the ways to enhance the domestic supply of lentil. The study has found that there is a scope of increasing area under lentil during the rabi season, as its cost per hectare is less with higher net returns than the competing crops like wheat, gram and mustard in water-deficit and resource-poor conditions. There are large returns for adoption of disease management (80 per cent increase in net return), and improved small-seeded varieties (about 40 per cent increase in net return) in lentil. The study has found that lentil-based cropping systems are profitable and also have high water productivity, hence are suitable for mostly un-exploited rice-fallows under water-deficit conditions. Even though marketed surplus ratios have increased in recent years, there is a post-harvest loss to the extent of 7 per cent of production which needs to be curtailed to increase overall supply for final consumption. There is a case for larger institutional and policy support for pulse crops, keeping visible effects of pulse crops in increasing yield of subsequent crops in crop rotations.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Inequalities in India after COVID Pandemic

The paper examined the impact of Covid pandemic on economic and social inequalities in Indi

Weathering the Storm: Farmer Resilience and Strategies for Crop Losses

Agrarian distress in rainfed areas refers to the challenges faced by farmers who rely on rainfall for their agricultural activities. These areas are particularly vulnerable to climate change and variability, which can result in droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events that impact crop yields and livelihoods. One of the primary reasons for agrarian distress in rainfed areas is the lack of irrigation facilities. These areas rely on rainfall for their agricultural activities, and a lack of adequate rainfall can result in crop failure and financial losses for farmers. In addition, soil degradation and erosion, which can be caused by deforestation and unsustainable agricultural practices, can further reduce the productivity of rainfed areas. Furthermore, farmers in rainfed areas often face challenges in accessing credit and markets. They may also lack knowledge and resources and assets to adopt sustainable agricultural practices and diversify their income streams. This can result in a cycle of poverty and indebtedness, which leaves farmers struggling to make ends meet. Addressing agrarian distress in rainfed areas requires a comprehensive approach that includes improving irrigation facilities, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, providing access to credit and markets, and strengthening government support for farmers. This can help to improve agricultural productivity, enhance resilience to climate change, and promote sustainable livelihoods for farmers in rainfed areas. Government of India implementing crop insurance scheme to compensate for crop losses since last five decades in one form or other

Incentives for climate resilient agriculture in India

The ongoing climate talks at COP 26 recognized the interlinkages between agriculture and climate change. Agriculture is extremely vulnerable to climate change. The climate change and higher temperatures eventually reduce yields of some crops while encouraging weed and pest proliferation(Reddy et al., 2021). The high frequency of droughts rises the likelihood of crop failures and loss of incomes from livestock. If timely action is not taken, the natural resource degradation further reduces crop yields in India, which are already low compared to global averages. For instance, the productivity of rice in India is just 40% of the global average

Significance of Farmers' Distress Index in Reducing Agrarian Crisis: An Approach to Study Vulnerability in the Context of Dryland Farmers in India

Vulnerability assessments by developing Farmers' Distress Index (FDI) can play a vital role in the design of appropriate adaptation and mitigation policies directed towards the various structural changes in the recent era - for those who depend on agriculture for their livelihood and well-being. This paper attempts to build a picture of the vulnerability of distressed agricultural households by identifying the distress indicators - based on seven major dimensions, namely exposure, mitigating and adaptation strategies, adaptive capacity, triggers, sensitivity, psychological factors and impact. The aim of developing the Farmers' Distress Index (FDI), considering 50 indicators in the context of 640 dryland farmers of 4 districts in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, was to identify sources and forms of vulnerability that are specific to the context of designing resilience measures. The study we undertook reports the top 10 major indicators that drive the overall vulnerability of the districts. It also recommends a particular 'distress management package' by involving the local administration, research institutions and NGOs to build a specific action plan for intervention against each indicator

Farm profitability and Labour Use Efficiency

Appropriate choice of cropping systems to local agro-ecology increases profitability and employment. The increased labour shortage and reduced profitability are growing concerns to the farmers. Keeping this, the paper written with the following objectives: i) To assess the profitability among different cropping systems in the semi-arid tropics; ii) To assess the labour use pattern among different cropping systems and farm size; iii) To determine the resource use efficiency of the different cropping systems in the SAT India; and finally iv) To assess the influence of regional/local factors on incomes of farmers in the SAT India. The study used plot wise data collected from 16 villages from India for the crop year 2010. And it also estimated the resource use efficiency especially labour across different farm size groups in the SAT India and finally to assess the influence of regional/local factors on profitability of farmers. The study shows that input intensive cropping systems like cotton, paddy, wheat, fruits and vegetables based cropping systems are more profitable across many of the SAT villages compared to coarse cereals, pulses and oilseeds based cropping systems. Most of the villages are experiencing the shortage of labour as indicated by higher marginal productivity of labour and increasing trend of mechanisation. Farm size is having positive association with the hired labour use and farm mechanisation, but having negative association with family labour. Female employment has inverted “U” shape relation with farm size. This indicates that the farms with more than five hectares of land are detrimental to women employment as farm mechanization in large farms replaces women labour

Farm profitability and Labour Use Efficiency

Appropriate choice of cropping systems to local agro-ecology increases profitability and employment. The increased labour shortage and reduced profitability are growing concerns to the farmers. Keeping this, the paper written with the following objectives: i) To assess the profitability among different cropping systems in the semi-arid tropics; ii) To assess the labour use pattern among different cropping systems and farm size; iii) To determine the resource use efficiency of the different cropping systems in the SAT India; and finally iv) To assess the influence of regional/local factors on incomes of farmers in the SAT India. The study used plot wise data collected from 16 villages from India for the crop year 2010. And it also estimated the resource use efficiency especially labour across different farm size groups in the SAT India and finally to assess the influence of regional/local factors on profitability of farmers. The study shows that input intensive cropping systems like cotton, paddy, wheat, fruits and vegetables based cropping systems are more profitable across many of the SAT villages compared to coarse cereals, pulses and oilseeds based cropping systems. Most of the villages are experiencing the shortage of labour as indicated by higher marginal productivity of labour and increasing trend of mechanisation. Farm size is having positive association with the hired labour use and farm mechanisation, but having negative association with family labour. Female employment has inverted “U” shape relation with farm size. This indicates that the farms with more than five hectares of land are detrimental to women employment as farm mechanization in large farms replaces women labour

Rural transformation since 1970s in Dokur Village of Andhra Pradesh, India

In the past two decades, there are significant changes in rural India. There is some significant progress in reduction of poverty. This study examines the pathways by the Dokur villagers of Andhra Pradesh in India to survive and improve livelihoods in the face of a decade of persistent drought. The study is based on quantitative and qualitative data collected by ICRISAT: (a) longitudinal household survey data for the period 1975 to 2009, and (b) information and data gathered through focus group discussions with the villagers. It has documented various types of livelihood strategies, government policies, programs, process and outcomes over the period. The changes in ownership of productive assets including land, cropping patterns, occupational structure, household income, food intake and nutrition, children’s education, and improvement in living standard are also examined. The per capita income of households has increased rapidly in the recent years. However, income inequality situation has worsened as high-income opportunities are favourable to resource endowed households. As a consequence of increased income from multiple sources, consumption level has gone up and consumption has been smoothened, and overall living standard has improved. Access to education particularly for girls and children from marginalized families has increased. Finally, the study identified enabling factors at household level and suggests development policy