Doubling of farmers’ income

Farmer income doubled in fiscal 2021-22 as compared to FY18 for certain crops in some states. In all other cases, it rose in the range of 1.3-1.7 times a recent study conducted by State Bank of India (SBI) has shown.

Details –

• The study is based on primary data of SBI agri-portfolio across states.
• It contains granular data of various crops from agri-sensitive branches, and analyses the change in incomes of farmers over the last five years.
• The study said that the increase in farmers’ incomes, engaged in cash crops, has been more prominent compared to those growing non-cash crops.
• Allied/non-farm income showed a significant increase of 1.4-1.8 times in the majority of states in tandem with farm income during the same period.
• This substantiates the trend according to the 77th National Sample Survey that source of farmer income has become increasingly diverse apart from crops.

Beneficiaries of farm loan waivers –

• The study found that since 2014, out of approximately 3.7 crore eligible farmers, only around 50% of the farmers received the amount of loan waiver till March 2022.
• As of March 2022, the poorest implementation of farm loan waiver schemes in terms of proportion of eligible farmers who had received the announced benefits, were in Telangana (5%), Madhya Pradesh (12%), Jharkhand (13%), Punjab (24%), Karnataka (38%) and Uttar Pradesh (52%).
• Despite much hype and political patronage, Farm Loan waivers by States have failed to bring respite to intended subjects.
• This has sabotaged credit discipline in select geographies and making Banks and financial institutions wary of further lending.
• Reason behind low reach of farm loan waivers —
  • The report identified the following three factors as the possible reasons for the low implementation rate of these loan waivers –
    • Rejection of farmers’ claims by State Governments,
    • Limited or low fiscal space to meet promises,
    • Change in Governments in subsequent years.

Does it actually reach the intended beneficiaries?

• Apart from benefits not reaching the targeted farmers, the report also flagged concerns about whether they actually help farmers in genuine distress.
• Of the total accounts eligible for farm loan waiver, most of the accounts (more than 80%in some States) were in standard category.
• This raises a question about whose interest rampant waivers actually serve.