State of the Indian Farmer: A Millennium Study is the first of its kind-Comprehensive and synchronized attempt to document the past, the present and the future of India’s agricultural sector, It involves rich inputs from numerous top scholars and specialists to cover almost all important aspects concerning this key sector of India’s economy.
This book is unique in the sense that it is focused on the farmer –the man behind agriculture. This is the most comprehensive effort after the national commission on Agriculture submitted its reports in 1976. These studies, on various individual themes, under this mega-project, are quite penetrating and painstaking, their authors being recognized authorities on the subjects.
A comprehensive overview of these studies by Prof YK Alagh, provides a critical appraisal of the major issues addressed in these volumes. The mega study has been further enriched by an insightful preface from Prof C H Hanumantha Rao, touching almost every issue concerning the Indian farmer in today’s scenario.
Beginning in the year 2000, the millennium study project involved the efforts of over a hundred economists, policymakers, academicians and scholars, with three reputed institutions acting as coordinating/facilitating nodal centres, namely (i) Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi (ii) Institute of Social and Economic Change, Bangalore, and (iii) Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.
The 27-volume study, documenting the progression of agricultural development during the last five decades, will indeed go a long way in enriching our understanding of the nuances of development process and its welfare implications. The study will certainly help the future planners, policymakers and all those interested in the welfare of he Indian farmers and the alleviation of rural poverty.
Our farmers will produce more if we can consume more. Opportunities for assured and remunerative marketing will determine the interest taken by small farmer sin enhancing productivity. Our agriculture was formerly referred to as a gamble in the monsoon. It is now becoming increasingly a gamble in the market. Therefore, both monsoon and market management are essential for ensuring the economic well being and livelihood security of farming families.
The study is a timely one and what the Indian farmer needs today is walking the talk.