Agricultural Crisis and Farmers-friendly Reforms in India

Around 13% to 14% of India's national income originates from the agricultural sector, but the agricultural sector in India has been witnessing loss of dynamism in recent years. The agricultural crisis has increased overtime mainly owing to widening disparities between agricultural and non-agricultural sectors, resulting in a burgeoning gap between the incomes generated per worker from the two sectors. Concerned by the slow growth in the agriculture and allied sectors, the Government of India has launched a series of programs/schemes to rejuvenate agriculture and improve farm incomes. The present work focuses on the issues and concerns impacting the Indian agriculture. More importantly, it explains the key reform measures undertaken in recent years to mitigate agrarian distress, modernize agriculture, and improve the economic conditions of the farmers.