To ward off farm woes, stress on mechanisation

New Delhi, January 31

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With shrinking land and water resources and labour force, the onus rests on mechanisation of production and post-harvesting operations, says Economic Survey 2019-20 tabled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Agriculture mechanisation will help Indian farming transform into commercial farming from subsistence farming, it said emphasising on the need to enhance mechanisation in agriculture.

Though the growth in agriculture was estimated at 2.8 per cent in 2019-20 as compared to 2.9 per cent in 2018-19, the share of agriculture in the overall pie increased to 16.5 per cent from 16.1 per cent last year, implying larger issues in other segments of the Indian economy.

Meanwhile, stressing the increasing mechanisation, the Survey said in India it was 40 per cent as compared to China (59.5 per cent) and Brazil (75 per cent). Reiterating the government’s focus on doubling farmers’ income by 2022, it also emphasised on livestock and fisheries sector, food processing, financial inclusion, agricultural credit and crop insurance, micro irrigation and buffer stock management.

While average annual growth rate of agriculture was around 2.8 per cent. livestock income become an important secondary source of income growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9 per cent during past six years, assuming an important role in income, employment and nutritional security.

The economic report card also stressed the need to promote food processing sector. During the last six years ending 2017-18, the food processing industries sector has been growing at an Average Annual Growth Rate (AAGR) of around 5.06 per cent. — TNS

Livestock to help double income

According to the Survey, livestock income has become an important secondary source of income for rural families, assuming an important role in achieving the goal of doubling farmers’ income