India’s growth story is set to take a significant turn with the Government of India announcing its mission of ‘Doubling of Farmers’ Income by 2022’. The Indian government expects significant increases in the income of farmers through enhancement in agricultural production and productivity, reduction in cost of cultivation, crop diversification, promotion of allied and off-farm activities, efficient value chain management, and marketing of produce through electronic National Agriculture Market (e-NAM). Issues facing India’s rural economy are thus going to come under sharp focus. NABARD’s Rural India Perspective 2017 provides a comprehensive view of these issues, and prescribes policy interventions to address them. The volume is a compilation of insightful essays written by eminent researchers, practitioners, and experts in the field of Indian agriculture and rural development.

It recommends carrying out innovations all along the agricultural value chains in order to make agriculture more profitable, productive, and sustainable. This, however, would entail massive investments in various fields such as irrigation, high-value agriculture, dairy, poultry and rural infrastructure.