ABSTRACT
While agrarian distress has been much discussed and farmers’ suicides much publicized, the resilience that farmers have displayed in the adversity and inherent dynamism of Indian agriculture that enabled it to secure for itself a turn-around from the depth of the crisis have not received due attention. Policy interventions should now aim at creating an enabling environment through uplift of infrastructure and institutions so that Indian agriculture can come out strong to stand up to challenges of the 21st century. Discussion of issues in some critical areas of intervention forms the better part of this chapter. In the policy approach, there has lately been a discernible shift of emphasis from relentless increase in production to raising farmers’ income and welfare. The change is opportune and welcome.
