Doubling of farmers' Income by 2022 will be a difficult goal to realise if States don't show enthusiasm on this front, a top NITI Aayog official has said.
"Right now, most of the States do not seem to be showing proactive interest in taking measures for doubling farmers' income", Ramesh Chand, NITI Aayog Member said in the Capital on Tuesday.
He was addressing a national seminar on "Doubling of Farmers' Income by 2022" organised by NABARD in association with Agriculture Ministry and NITI Aayog.
Chand urged Agriculture Ministry to "do something" so that States take up the initiatives of the Centre in a "missionary" way. He noted that most States are not serious about pursuing the goal of doubling of farmers' income by 2022.
"There is need to sensitise, incentivise, persuade or even pressurize States to adopt the measures initiated by the Centre on this front", Chand said.
Some of the States are in fact "backtracking" on agricultural market reforms, he said.
Chand noted that the Centre was focused on several initiatives including electronic national agricultural marketplace (eNAM) and also pushing of land lease reforms.
"Centre can only create an enabling environment, but those initiatives have to be adopted by States", he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Agriculture Secretary S. K. Pattanaik said that agriculture ministry was working with NSSO to compile State-wise farmers’ income on an yearly basis.
Srivats.kr@thehindu.co.in