The Path to Agricultural Transformation: Awareness is the Real Key

Schemes abound in the agricultural sector, but benefits come only when farmers understand and adopt them

By Ashutosh Pandey 

Agriculture is very important for Indias economy. 45 To 50 percent of the people in India depend on agriculture for their livelihood either directly or indirectly. However agriculture only contributes about 15 to 18 percent to the countrys income. This shows that we need to improve the way farming is done and increase the income of farmers.

To do this the government has started plans to help farmers earn more money reduce risks and make farming better.. Even with these plans farmers are not getting all the benefits. The main reasons for this are that farmers do not know about these plans the process to apply for them is complicated. They are not implemented properly.

The government has started initiatives to help farmers. One important plan is the Kisan Credit Card scheme, which helps farmers get loans at interest rates. This scheme has been extended to include animal farming and fishing so that these sectors can also get loans. However it is still difficult to reach farmers.

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme has helped farmers by giving them money directly into their bank accounts. Under this scheme eligible farmers get 6,000 rupees every year divided into three parts. Many farmers have benefited from this scheme. Some are still left out due to problems like complicated land records and banking errors.

To protect farmers from disasters the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana scheme is like a safety net. Under this scheme farmers pay an amount of money and the government pays the rest.

The Pradhan Mantri KUSUM scheme helps farmers by giving them a subsidy to install solar-powered pumps. This reduces the cost of irrigation. Also allows farmers to earn extra money by selling surplus electricity. This is a step towards making farming sustainable and good for the environment.

The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana scheme aims to give water to every field. It promotes ways to use water efficiently like drip irrigation, which’s very important in areas where water is scarce.

To improve infrastructure the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund has been started with a lot of money. It helps build warehouses, cold storage and processing units and also gives benefits like interest rates and loan guarantees.

The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana scheme gives money to states to develop agriculture and innovate, based on needs.

In years climate change has become a big problem for farming. According to the India Meteorological Department the weather is becoming unpredictable with extreme rainfall and hotter temperatures. This affects the quality and quantity of crops.

In this situation using crop insurance, efficient irrigation and climate-friendly technologies is necessary. We need to innovate and diversify farming. Practices like farming growing many crops and using waste to make fertilizer can reduce costs and increase farmers income. For example planting flowers that attract bees in orchards can increase productivity.

With all these plans the biggest problem is that they are not implemented properly. Farmers in areas do not know about these plans the process to apply is complicated and there is not enough digital literacy. Corruption and lack of transparency also stop farmers from trusting these plans.

To solve this problem we need to tell farmers about these plans in language make the application process easier and teach them how to use digital technology. We also need to make sure that agricultural advisory centers and local institutions are strong and can give guidance to farmers. We need to monitor these plans to ensure transparency and accountability.

In conclusion India has plans to help farmers and many farmers have benefited from them. However many farmers are still not getting all the benefits. The problem is not that there are no plans but that farmers do not know about them and they are not implemented properly. If we can solve this problem farming can become self-sufficient. Play a big role in Indias economic progress. The agricultural sector needs awareness. The government needs to make sure that these plans are implemented properly so that farmers can benefit from the agricultural plans. The agricultural plans are very important, for the farmers and the government needs to make sure that they are working properly.

India’s economy is fundamentally rooted in agriculture. Even today, nearly 45–50% of the country’s population is directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture, while the sector contributes only about 15–18% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This imbalance clearly indicates the need to improve productivity and income levels in the agricultural sector.

With this objective, the central government has launched several schemes in recent years aimed at doubling farmers’ income, reducing risks, and modernizing agriculture. However, despite the availability of these schemes, their full benefits have not reached farmers. The primary reasons include lack of awareness, complex procedures, and shortcomings in implementation.

In this context, the government has introduced multiple initiatives to enhance farmers’ income, minimize risks, and promote sustainable farming. One such significant initiative is the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme, which ensures financial accessibility for farmers. Under this scheme, farmers can avail short-term loans at relatively low interest rates, which effectively come down to around 4% with timely repayment.

The scope of KCC has also been extended to animal husbandry and fisheries, enabling institutional credit access to allied sectors. However, reaching small and marginal farmers remains a challenge.

As a direct income support measure, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme has had a wide impact. Under this scheme, eligible farmers receive ₹6,000 annually in three equal installments directly into their bank accounts. According to official data, millions of farmers have benefited. However, issues such as complex land records, Aadhaar verification problems, and banking errors still leave many eligible farmers excluded.

To protect farmers from losses caused by natural calamities, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) serves as a safety net. Under this scheme, farmers pay a premium of about 2% for Kharif crops and 1.5% for Rabi crops, while the remaining cost is borne by the government.

To reduce energy costs and promote sustainable agriculture, the Pradhan Mantri KUSUM (PM-KUSUM) scheme has been implemented. It provides up to 60% subsidy for installing solar-powered pumps. The government aims to install 30,000 MW of solar capacity under this scheme. This not only reduces irrigation costs but also allows farmers to generate additional income by selling surplus electricity. It is considered a significant step toward balancing agriculture and environmental sustainability.

For better water management, the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) operates with the goal of “Har Khet Ko Pani” (water to every field). It promotes micro-irrigation techniques such as drip and sprinkler systems, improving water-use efficiency. This is particularly important in drought-prone areas where optimal utilization of limited water resources is crucial.

To strengthen agricultural infrastructure, the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) has been established with a total corpus of ₹1 lakh crore. It supports the development of warehouses, cold storage, processing units, and supply chains, along with benefits like 3% interest subvention and credit guarantee.

Additionally, the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) provides financial assistance to states for agricultural development and innovation, allowing implementation based on local needs.

In recent years, climate change has emerged as a serious challenge for agriculture. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and other scientific institutions, trends such as erratic monsoons, extreme rainfall, and a temperature rise of about 1 to 1.5 degrees Celsius are becoming evident. Conditions like “warming earth and intensified monsoon” adversely affect crop productivity and quality.

In such a scenario, the use of crop insurance, efficient irrigation, and climate-smart technologies has become essential. Innovation and diversification in agriculture are the need of the hour. Practices such as organic farming, crop diversification, horticulture, and composting agricultural waste not only reduce costs but also enhance farmers’ income. For example, introducing pollinator-friendly plants in orchards strengthens biodiversity, positively impacting productivity. This approach bridges traditional farming with modern scientific practices.

Despite these initiatives, the biggest challenge lies in implementation. Lack of awareness in rural areas, complex application processes, low digital literacy, and administrative delays limit the reach of these schemes. In many cases, corruption and lack of transparency also undermine farmers’ trust.

As a solution, it is essential to disseminate information about these schemes at the village level in simple language, simplify application procedures, and promote digital literacy. Agricultural advisor centers and local institutions must be strengthened to provide technical guidance to farmers. At the same time, monitoring mechanisms should be reinforced to ensure transparency and accountability.

It can be concluded that India has a strong framework of agricultural schemes, and data shows that millions of farmers have benefited. However, a large section still remains deprived of their full advantages. The issue is not the lack of schemes, but the gap between awareness and effective implementation. Bridging this gap can make the agricultural sector not only self-reliant but also a decisive force in the country’s overall economic progress.

(The writer is a student of Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Jammu)