INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightGetty ImagesThe plight of India's farmers has been a major theme in the campaigns ahead of national elections, which get
under way on 11 April.Angry farmers have regularly taken to the streets demanding a better financial deal.Many find themselves in debt and
burdened by other liabilities they've taken on to buy seed, fertilisers and equipment.Thousands of farmers commit suicide every year in
India, although the reasons are often complex.Pledge: Speaking in 2016, India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, said farmers' incomes would
Verdict: Official data shows farmers' incomes were rising between 2013 and 2016
Income data for the past two years is not available but there are signs the rural economy is depressed
Unless there is a significant upturn, the doubling of farm incomes by 2022 is unlikely
The government has now pledged to pay 6,000 Indian rupees (£64) a year to help farmers with holdings of less than two hectares (20,000 sq
m), in a bid to reach that goal.These moves have been criticised by opposition parties as vote-buying ahead of the elections.The
agricultural sector employs more than 40% of the workforce in India, despite its shrinking contribution to the country's gross domestic
product (GDP), the total value of goods and services produced.What's happened to farming incomesIn 2016, the average monthly income of a
farming household was about 9,000 Indian rupees (£100), according to a survey conducted by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural
Development.This report also found that farmers' income had increased by 40% in the three years up to 2016, the latest year for which data
is available.However, there is evidence of a more recent slowdown in the rural economy.According to one estimate, farm income, which had
grown by more than 14% in the year to 2017, slumped to just over a 2% growth rate between 2017 and 2018.And in several state elections in
December 2018, the ruling BJP fared poorly - something put down to growing discontent in rural areas
What problems do farmers faceDroughts, bad weather and a lack of modern equipment have plagued Indian agriculture for decades.In addition,
many of India's farmers work on vulnerable small or marginal holdings.The current administration has introduced pro-farming policies that
include:a crop insurance scheme a soil health card scheme to improve productivity an online trading platform for agricultural produceBut
it's also faced criticism for other policies that have negatively affected farmers - such as the sudden decision to 2016 withdraw the 500
and 1,000 rupee notes from circulation in a bid to tackle the black economy.Image copyrightGetty ImagesImage caption
There are issues with storage and processing
Why aren't farmers earning moreA very good harvest in any year will result in a
sharp fall in the price of a commodity
This helps keep food prices in check for urban consumers but is not so good for rural producers.To counter this, the government sets a
minimum purchase price for major agricultural products each year.However, a recent official report pointed out serious shortcomings of these
It cited a lack of awareness among farmers, delays in payments and insufficient facilities to enable farmers to store produce at
government-controlled warehouses.At various times over the years, national and state governments have also announced loan waivers for
farmers to write off their debts.These schemes are expensive and not everyone qualifies for help.Read more from Reality CheckSend us your
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