Topic: Agriculture; Employment
3) In the light of the government’s initiative to double farmers’ income, examine the mechanisms and focus areas, especially from the perspective of small farmers and farm workers, through which this goal can be achieved. Also examine what India can learn from China’s similar initiative. (250 Words)
Why this question?
Farmers’ issue must be understood from multiple dimensions. An entire essay can be asked about farm distress. Government’s promise of doubling income is a very important issue for Mains – 2018.
Key demand of the question:
Mechanisms and focus areas should be written but with main focus on small farmers and farm workers. Less than one third space should be devoted to write about China’s initiative and the lessons we can learn from it.
Directive Word:
Examine: Write facts as they are. No need to comment here.
Structure of Answer:
In the introduction, write about importance of doubling farmers’ income by giving a fact. Try to link it with Economic Survey observations.
In the body, there should be THREE Mains parts to address each demand of the question. Within each part, try to categorise points into 3-4 categories (For example, in Second part on Focus areas – high-value crops and rain-fed areas, non-farm occupations, agro-industrialisation etc).
In the conclusion, write about role of states in helping this goal become real.
