Farmers revolt: India’s farm distress needs structural solutions, quick fixes such as loan waivers won’t do—सविस्तर माहितीसाठी टाइम्स ऑफ इंडिया मधील बातमी वाचावी.

All of a sudden it seems to be Kashmir in Madhya Pradesh: at least five protesters shot dead in Mandsaur district, prohibitory orders and internet shutdowns enforced. The difference is that MP’s turmoil is not the outcome of a political protest led by separatists but rather an economic protest led by farmers; ironically, in a state often upheld by BJP as a model of agricultural progress. Elsewhere, in neighbouring Maharashtra, far-off Tamil Nadu or other states, farmers are seething with discontent – despite a normal monsoon last year and robust produce.
This is testimony to the deep-seated crisis in India’s agricultural economy and must serve as a wake-up call to the Centre as well as state governments. The usual populist fixes – such as farm loan waivers – is not going to defuse this crisis. Rather, policy makers must now remove the structural bottlenecks in India’s farm economy. Agriculture supports more than half of India’s population but makes up just 15% of its economic activity. It follows that holistic solutions to farmer distress will have to combine creation of non-farm jobs and enhancement of farm incomes.

via Farmers revolt: India’s farm distress needs structural solutions, quick fixes such as loan waivers won’t do