Doubling dreams: Transforming agriculture in Modi's new India

Agriculture plays the most important role in Indian economy. It is the primary source of livelihood for a majority of Indians and contributes nearly a quarter of the nation’s GDP. Even though the plight of farmers—low incomes, ever-increasing debts and suicides—had been at the centre of Indian politics for decades since Independence, the past policies have not had the desired impact. Agriculture continued to be an unresolved impedance to India’s growth story. Unfortunately, the policymaking of the past lacked vision and failed to stabilize the farm crisis. Prime Minister Narendra Modi came up with the vision of doubling farmer income as a tenable solution and long-lasting solution to the challenges. In order to sustain the agro-economy and ensure food security, agricultural growth and farmer’s income were both considered equally important. His vision of ‘Beej se bazaar tak’ (from seed to market) encompassed all the measures that are needed to ensure better incomes for farmers and increase farm productivity. The prime objective of the Modi government has been to double farmer income in the shortest possible time. Doubling Dreams: Transforming Agriculture in Modi’s New India covers all the schemes and initiatives undertaken in the five years (2014–2019) by the Modi government to achieve its commitment for giving farmers their much-deserved rewards and recognition. The chapters are based on true accounts of farmers who interacted with the editors and the contributors.