Farmers' debt increased by 57.7 percent in five years

The average debt on farmer families in the country has increased by 57.7 percent, Indian Express reported. According to the survey report of the National Statistical Office, in the year 2013, the average debt of farmer families in the country used to be Rs 47,000 but in the year 2018, it increased to Rs 74,121.

Farmers' debt increased

The Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation, Government of India released this report on the condition of farmer families in the country on Friday. The average monthly income of farmer households from various sources has increased by 59% to Rs 10,218 in the year 2018-19 as compared to the year 2012-13. In the year 2012-13, this amount used to be only Rs 6,426.

50% increase in income has been possible due to an increase in wages. This amount used to be Rs 2,071 per month in the year 2013 which has increased to Rs 4,063 per month in the year 2018.

The survey defines an agricultural household as receiving more than Rs 4,000 as the value of produce from agricultural activities (for example, cultivation of field crops, horticultural crops, fodder crops, plantations, animal husbandry, poultry, fisheries, piggery, beekeeping, vermiculture, sericulture, etc.) and at least one member has been self-employed in agriculture either in principal position or in subsidiary position during the last 365 days.

Highest in Andhra Pradesh

While the national average outstanding debt during July-December 2018 was Rs 74,121, it was highest in Andhra Pradesh at Rs 2.45 lakh and Nagaland at Rs 1,750. Of the 28 states for which data is available, 11 states – Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Punjab, Haryana, Telangana, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh – had an average outstanding loan per household higher than the national average. in 2018.

In three states – Andhra Pradesh (Rs 2.45 lakh), Kerala (Rs 2.42 lakh) and Punjab (Rs 2.02 lakh), the average outstanding loan per agricultural household was more than Rs 2 lakh; More than Rs 1 lakh in five states - Haryana (Rs 1.82 lakh), Telangana (Rs 1.52 lakh), Karnataka (Rs 1.26 lakh), Rajasthan (Rs 1.13 lakh) and Tamil Nadu (Rs 1.06 lakh).

Between 2013 and 2018, the average outstanding credit per agricultural household increased from 13.52 percent to 709 percent in 25 states, while three states - Tamil Nadu (-8 percent), Manipur (-9 percent), and Arunachal Pradesh (34 percent) - a decline was recorded.

16 states showed growth

In percentage terms, 16 states showed growth above the national average of 57.7 percent, of which 10 showed more than 100 percent growth - Mizoram (709 percent), Assam (382 percent), Tripura (378 percent). ), Sikkim (225 percent), Himachal Pradesh (206 percent), Nagaland (191 percent), Jammu and Kashmir (149 percent), Madhya Pradesh (131 percent), Haryana (131 percent), and Chhattisgarh (110.23 percent).

Out of an average monthly income of Rs 10,218 per agricultural household (based on the 'expenses paid' approach), Rs 4,063 came from wages; 134 from leasing out the land; 3,798 came in as net receipts from crop production; Rs 1,582 as net proceeds from livestock farming; and Rs 641 as net receipts from the non-agricultural business.

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