New Delhi: Raising crop production, reducing cultivation costs and post-harvest losses, and reform of agriculture markets are among the focus areas of the central government to double farmer incomes by 2022, according to a blueprint released by the agriculture ministry on Friday. The release of the seven-point strategy follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day speech, in which he had reiterated that his government will strive to double farmers’ incomes by 2022, the 75th year of India’s Independence. Falling crop prices and rising debt have led to farmer protests in several states since June. According to the report, India will need cumulative private and public investments of Rs1.486 trillion (at 2004-05 prices) during this period to double farmers’ incomes. According to the seven-point strategy released on Friday, the government is seeking to raise production by improving water-use efficiency and access to irrigation.

Source: Mint September 08, 2017 18:00 UTC