1st Edition
Lakhpati Kisan Transforming Smallholder Farmers in India
Agriculture plays an essential role in the growth of developing economies as agricultural production is key to food security and is closely intertwined with the livelihoods of many. This book explores the lives of smallholder agricultural farmers in India and the dire challenges that agricultural households face in India.
Focussing on the Lakhpati Farmers initiative, the book examines interventions made by the programme to economically empower farmers and accelerate income growth in the agriculture sector. The programme initiated by the Collectives for Integrated Livelihood Initiatives (CInI) in the tribal belts of central Indian States helped farmers earn over INR 100,000 (or One Lakh – hence Lakhpati) per annum. The programme engaged with households in 12 districts across four states – Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Gujarat to bring about change through economic empowerment and improving the quality of life of tribal communities. This book documents these initiatives and strategies to meet the aspirations of small and marginal farmers by understanding the ingredients, processes, and challenges involved. The book analyses the programme, examines case studies, and offers ways forward.
Part of the Innovations, Practice and the Future of Public Policy in India series, this volume will be of interest to students and researchers of agriculture and rural development, business management, governance, public policy, development studies, and sociology.
List of Figures. List of tables. List of Contributors. Preface and Acknowldegements. Foreword 1. Making a Sustainable Difference: The Lakhpati Kisan Initiative 2. The programme design of the Lakhpati Kisan Initiative 3. Agriculture-based livelihoods enhancement through Production Cluster approach: Experiences from Lakhpati Kisan Initiative 4. Enabling Farmer Aspirations through Unlocking Irrigation Potential: Experiences from Lakhpati Kisan Initiative 5. Livestock Rearing: Lifeline for marginal farmers of Rainfed Central India Belt 6. Women’s Empowerment and Equity: Building Social Resilience through Women-led Community Institutions 7. Institutions and Entrepreneurship: Strategies to Meet the Aspirations of Farmers and move towards irreversibility 8. Cultivating Success: Translating Lakhpati Kisan Outcomes into Action for Sustainable Livelihoods and Meeting Aspirations. Index.
Biography
Anjal Prakash is the Clinical Associate Professor (Research) and Research Director at the Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad, India.
Ashwini Chhatre currently serves as the Executive Director of Bharti Institute of Public Policy at the Indian School of Business, India while serving on its faculty as an Associate Professor of Public Policy.
Ganesh Neelam is a development professional with an overall 23 years of experience. He currently is the Executive Director of CInI, which has designed and implemented the Lakhpati Kisan programme.
Sujit K Gopinathan currently works for Tata Trusts as the Regional Manager, Gujarat and also the state lead of CInI (Collectives for Integrated Livelihood Initiatives), programs across the tribal districts of Gujarat.
Apurva Duddu is a PhD student in Environmental Studies at Yale University, USA and has been actively engaged with projects with the Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad, India.
