2025, Vol. 6, Issue 2, Part B

Since India gained independence, successive governments have singled out farmers as a key constituency, launching a series of agricultural schemes aimed at improving their livelihoods. In the wake of the 1991 economic reforms and the opening-up that followed, the farm sector has gradually tapped into the opportunities created by globalisation, yielding modest financial gains. To build on this momentum, the State routinely subsidizes a portion of the capital for selected projects, hoping to boost investment, secure ongoing profitability, and favour domestically produced inputs. Under such schemes, enhanced irrigation, feritization, and soil-testing technologies have already lifted yields, improved micro-nutrients, and in turn broadened profit margins, enabling many producers to target premium markets. This article therefore seeks to map these interventions and encourage farmers to claim the benefits on offer. It draws on a conceptual overview of the programme architecture, complemented by empirical data, in order to illustrate the strengths, shortfalls, and real-world impact of India’s contemporary farm policies.

Even though a rich menu of subsidies, loans, and knowledge schemes is technically available to farmers, persistent knowledge gaps and bureaucratic hurdles repeatedly inhibit access. By carefully spelling out eligibility rules, enrollment steps, and demonstrated gains, the current analysis not only underscores the upside of participation but also grades the effectiveness of each programme, thereby guiding stakeholders toward the most promising options.