Doubling Farmers’ Income: Progress Made, Promise Still a Work in Progress

18 December 2025, New Delhi: When the Government of India articulated its goal of doubling farmers’ income, it marked an important shift in agricultural policy. The focus moved beyond increasing production to improving the overall economic viability of farming. Several years on, the question persists: how much progress has been made, and has farmers’ income actually doubled?

The Policy Framework Behind the Goal

In April 2016, the Government constituted an Inter-Ministerial Committee to examine issues related to doubling farmers’ income. The committee submitted its report in September 2018 and identified seven major sources of income growth. These included improvements in crop and livestock productivity, reduction in the cost of cultivation, increased cropping intensity, diversification towards high-value crops, better price realisation, and a gradual shift from farm to non-farm employment. An empowered body was formed in January 2019 to monitor the implementation of these recommendations.Since then, schemes and programmes of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare have been aligned with this broader income-centric approach.

What the Government Told Parliament

The government’s assessment of progress was shared in the Lok Sabha by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur, in a written reply. The minister reiterated that agriculture is a State subject, and that the Union government supports States through policy measures, financial allocations, and centrally sponsored schemes aimed at improving farmers’ income and resilience.He informed Parliament that the budgetary allocation for the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare increased sharply from ₹21,933.50 crore in 2013–14 to ₹1,27,290.16 crore in 2025–26. According to the government, this enhanced funding underpins efforts to address challenges such as rising input costs, price volatility, climate risks, and market access constraints.

Schemes and Interventions on the Ground

In his reply, the minister listed multiple schemes intended to support farmers’ incomes. These include direct income support through PM-KISAN, pension support under PM-Kisan Maandhan Yojana, crop and weather insurance under PMFBY and RWBCIS, and concessional credit through the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme. Programmes such as the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations, crop diversification initiatives, natural farming missions, mechanisation support, and digital agriculture initiatives are aimed at strengthening both farm productivity and market linkages.The government has also highlighted sector-specific missions in horticulture, edible oils, bamboo, beekeeping, agroforestry, and organic value chains, particularly in the North Eastern region.

Income Growth, Not Income Doubling

Official survey data indicates that farmers’ incomes have increased, though not doubled at the national level. According to the National Sample Survey Office’s Situation Assessment Survey, the average monthly income of agricultural households rose from ₹6,426 in 2012–13 to ₹10,218 in 2018–19. This represents a significant increase, but it falls short of a twofold rise.The government also cited household consumption data from the NSSO’s Household Consumption Expenditure Survey for 2023–24. Rural monthly per capita consumption expenditure increased from ₹1,430 in 2011–12 to ₹4,122 in 2023–24, while the gap between rural and urban consumption levels narrowed. While this suggests improved living standards in rural areas, consumption growth does not directly equate to farm income growth, as it may also reflect non-farm earnings and welfare support.

Success Stories and Uneven Outcomes

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has compiled success stories of around 75,000 farmers who reportedly more than doubled their income through convergence of schemes, improved practices, and diversification. These cases demonstrate the potential impact of targeted interventions when conditions are favourable.However, agriculture in India remains highly diverse. Small and marginal farmers continue to face constraints related to land fragmentation, climate variability, market access, and rising input costs. As a result, income gains have been uneven across regions, crops, and categories of farmers.

A Target Still in Transition

The government’s response in Parliament reflects a strong emphasis on intent, investment, and institutional support. At the same time, the data presented indicates that while farmers’ incomes have grown steadily, the original goal of doubling income within a defined timeframe has not been uniformly achieved.The focus now appears to be shifting towards sustained income enhancement rather than a single numerical milestone. Whether this translates into lasting gains for farmers will depend on how effectively schemes converge at the ground level and how successfully farmers are integrated into value chains beyond primary production.

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