2022 was the year that farmers’ income was supposed to double. Not only were we unable to achieve this, but some states saw farmer incomes fall. Despite massive protests over the past three years and heated policy debates, little has changed for farmers on ground. A large part of this is because farmers are rarely the ones taking decisions. Growing up in a farmer household, I have seen firsthand how little control farmers have over trade – and this begins from the very first point in the supply chain.
Agriculture in India has become totally dependent on inputs, especially after the Green Revolution which led to the increased use of chemical fertilisers and hybrid seeds. While this increased production, farmers became dependent on input shops for seeds and fertilisers.
To tackle challenges around poor seed quality and scarcity of fertilisers, it is important to understand how the input supply chain works. How do farmers decide the
— source thewire.in | Hitesh Bhoyar | 25/Jan/2023