Source: IE
Context:
At a time when India’s goal of substantially raising farmers’ incomes remains elusive, an experiment from Beed district in Maharashtra offers a practical, scalable pathway to transform rural livelihoods—especially in drought-prone regions.
The Beed Breakthrough
- Beed district, traditionally marked by low rainfall and agrarian distress, witnessed a dramatic turnaround in farm incomes.
- The initiative was led by Global Vikas Trust (GVT) under the leadership of Mayank Gandhi.
- An independent assessment by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) found that per-acre incomes rose more than 10 times—from about ₹38,700 to nearly ₹3.9 lakh.
What Changed on the Ground?
1. Crop Diversification
- Farmers shifted from low-return crops like cotton and soybean to high-value horticulture, including:
- Papaya
- Pomegranate
- Sweet lime
- Custard apple
- Guava
- Banana
- These crops offered better price realisation and year-round income potential.
2. Scientific Farming Practices
- Adoption of high-density plantations and modern agronomic techniques.
- Continuous hand-holding and training, rather than one-time advisories.
3. Affordable Quality Inputs
- Saplings procured in bulk and supplied to farmers at nearly half the market price.
- Cost support came through CSR funds and philanthropic contributions, lowering entry barriers.
4. Water Security as the Foundation
- Construction of:
- Farm ponds
- Deep recharge shafts
- Result:
- Groundwater levels improved sharply—from around 400 feet to nearly 50 feet in many villages.
- Reliable water made diversification sustainable, not risky.
5. Credit & Risk Mitigation
- Banks were brought in with credit guarantees, reducing farmers’ fear of debt.
- Risk was shared across institutions, not borne by farmers alone.
Lessons for National Policy
- Crop diversification + water security is a powerful income multiplier.
- Doubling farmers’ income may be too modest a target—with the right support, incomes can grow manifold.
- Government schemes can amplify impact by aligning:
- Horticulture missions
- Watershed development
- Rural credit and insurance
- Replicable in other semi-arid and rain-fed regions of India.
