The Triad of Agricultural Development, Food Security, and Farmer Welfare: Evidence from India

Abstract

India's agriculture sector is forming yet another multidimensional paradox in the nation's economy above all else. In contrast to attaining the highest-ever foodgrain production and self-sufficiency at the macro level, India is still confronted with the chronic problems of food insecurity and farmer distress at the micro level. This paper thus tries to adopt an empirical approach in unravelling the complex linkages existing among farm production, food security, and farmer welfare in India. Based on quantitative information from government reports, national surveys, and global indices, the analysis studies crop production trends, dissects the multi-dimensional nature of food security, and appraises the economic welfare of farmers, including incongruities in income inequality between various states. The findings strongly show that notwithstanding an all-time high production record of India with foodgrain production at 3322.98 LMT in the year 2023-24, this spontaneous production surge could not be converted to equitable farmer incomes or world food security. India secured 68th position by the Global Food Security Index, noting the lowest factors of affordability and sustainability, while farmers' income also shows huge regional disparity. The evaluation of such government interventions as  PM-KISAN, PMF.