Overview
- Systemic nationwide assessment of Farmers’ Distress Index (FDI) is not yet available.
- A pilot study titled “Agrarian Distress and PM Fasal Bima Yojana: An Analysis of Rainfed Agriculture” was conducted for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh during 2020–21 and 2021–22.
Purpose of FDI
- Developed as a multidimensional tool to:
- Forewarn stakeholders of impending farm distress.
- Provide policy support for addressing distress severity.
- Identify distressed areas and enable timely preventive actions.
Scope of the Study
- Conducted at the sub-district level to build an early warning system.
- Focused on rainfed agriculture, which is more vulnerable to climate and price shocks.
Key Parameters of FDI
FDI assesses distress based on seven key parameters:
- Exposure to risk (climate variability, price fluctuations, pests, etc.)
- Adaptive capacity (ability to cope with changing conditions)
- Sensitivity (degree to which farmers are affected by stress factors)
- Mitigation and adaptation strategies (steps taken to manage risks)
- Triggers (events causing sudden distress)
- Psychological factors (mental health and perception of distress)
- Impacts (consequences on income, livelihood, and well-being)
Functionality of FDI
- Forewarning System:
- Provides alerts three months in advance to take preventive measures.
- Planning Tool:
- Assists government and local communities in identifying causes of distress.
- Supports the formulation of location-specific distress management packages.
- Scalable Framework:
- Designed to be scaled for wider implementation across the country.
- Aims to ensure efficient delivery of government support to the most affected regions.
Potential Benefits
- Helps prioritize action points for intervention by government agencies.
- Enhances preparedness and resilience against climate and market risks.
- Improves coordination between local and national authorities for distress mitigation.
- Contributes to psychosocial support measures for farmers along with financial and structural solutions.
The Farmers’ Distress Index (FDI) pilot study is a significant step toward creating a data-backed, proactive framework for identifying and addressing farm distress. It has the potential to become an essential tool for policy-making, resource allocation, and long-term distress management in Indian agriculture.
Source: PIB
