In the course of over half a century of planned development in India, there has been a major transformation of farming from the traditional to the modern, with millions of farmers participating in the green revolution and becoming increasingly conscious of science and technology. The country has entered the new era of globalisation with confidence, even as the expectations of farmers have been aroused.

“This is an opportune moment to take stock of Indian agriculture — its achievements and emerging challenges — through an in-depth examination of the performance and prospects. The series of studies completed under the mega project ‘State of the Indian Farmer : A Millennium Study,’ sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India, represent a laudable effort towards this end,” says Prof. C.H. Hanumantha Rao.

The Millennium Study was conceived, planned and coordinated over the last four years, by officers of the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, involving, among others, the Secretary of the Ministry, R.C.A Jain (who has spent over 27 years in the field of agriculture and rural development) and M.K. Srivastava of the Indian Statistical Service.

Beginning in the year 2000, the project involved the efforts of over a hundred economists, policy-makers, academicians and scholars with three reputed institutions acting as coordinating / facilitating nodal centres, namely (i) Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi (ii) Institute of Social and Economic Change, Bangalore, and (iii) Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

State of the Indian Farmer : A Millennium Study (published in 27 volumes along with a CD-Rom) is unique in the sense that it is focused on the ‘farmer’ — the man behind agriculture. This is the most comprehensive effort after the National Commission on Agriculture submitted its reports in 1976. These studies, on various individual themes, under this mega-project, are quite penetrating and painstaking, their authors being recognised authorities on the concerned subjects.

A comprehensive overview of these studies by Prof. Y.K. Alagh, provides a critical appraisal of the major issues addressed in these volumes. The mega study has been further enriched by a crisp and insightful preface by Prof. C.H. Hanumantha Rao touching almost every issue concerning the Indian farmer in today's scenario.

The 27-volume study, documenting the progression of agricultural development during the last five decades, will indeed go a long way in enriching our understanding of the nuances of development process and its welfare implications. The study will certainly help the future planners, policy-makers and all those interested in the welfare of the Indian farmers and the alleviation of rural poverty.

“Our farmers will produce more if we can consume more. Opportunities for assured and remunerative marketing will determine the interest taken by small farmers in enhancing productivity. Our agriculture was formerly referred to as ‘a gamble in the monsoon.’ It is now becoming increasingly ‘a gamble in the market.’ Therefore, both monsoon and market management are essential for ensuring the economic well being and livelihood security of farming families.
“The study is a timely one and what the Indian farmer needs today is walking the talk.”

M.S. Swaminathan
UNESCO Cousteau Chair in Ecotechnology and Chairman,
MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai.

“In last few decades Indian agriculture has gone through structural and organizational changes, which have impacted the lives of millions of our people in profound ways. It is important to understand the factors affecting such changes and what they portent for the future. The authors in this series of Millennium Studies have given us a comprehensive picture of Indian agriculture, its past and its possible future. The sponsor of these studies and their publishers deserve grateful thanks not only from the scholars and policy makers but also from a large number of people who are participating in or affected by the developments in this vital sector of our economy.”

Vijay S. Vyas
Professor Emeritus,
Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur

"These volumes, the product of work by a large number of recognized scholars and experts, should be valuable as a source of information and discussion on contemporary issues relating to different aspects of agricultural development and policy."

A. Vaidyanathan
Professor Emeritus,
Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai.

The challenge before Indian agriculture is to become increasingly diversified, shift to high-value crops, and allied activities like livestock and fisheries. The millennium Study would provide the roadmap towards this end and be an important reference point.

Radha Singh
Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation
Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India, New Delhi.

"This unique collection of twenty seven volumes provides deep insights into the major issues confronting the Indian farmer, especially the small farmer. The collection is particularly timely given the retrogression being experienced by the Indian agriculture. The experts discuss how to reverse the disquieting trends and achieve inclusive and sustainable development. They also dwell on incentives, institutions, infrastructure and innovations in the context of globalization and diversification. All the volumes stand as an invaluable source of knowledge for all those interested in understanding the past, present and future of the Indian agriculture."

R. Radhakrishna
Director, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR), Mumbai.