Topic: Issues related to Direct and Indirect Farm Subsidies and Minimum Support Prices
6. Analyse the implications of state’s interference on Indian agriculture. (250 words)
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
The article highlights issues in Indian agriculture.
Key Demand of the question:
Analyse the implications of state’s interference on Indian agriculture in detail and suggest suitable solutions.
Directive:
Analyze – When asked to analyse, you have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start with brief backgrounder of the question context.
Body:
Discuss the challenges on Indian agriculture system specifically with respect to State’s interference.
Explain how it has been a good initiative to keep India away from nationalization of farm sector but indirect control of the government in rural property rights, land use and land ceilings; commodity prices, input subsidies and taxes, infrastructure, production, credit, marketing and agri-business etc. have held the sector from attaining actual potential.
Analyse how the whole ecosystem is risk-averse and hence caught in a vicious trap.
Discuss with examples how agriculture is under the influence of government restrictions.
Conclusion:
Conclude with solutions; Farm reforms must be oriented towards minimizing risk and increasing returns for farmers. Farmers must be free to determine the best mix of resources, land, inputs, technology, and organizational forms for their farms. Farmers must be allowed to enter and exit agriculture on their own terms and contract with whomever they wish.
