Small farmers, Large field: An innovative model towards doubling farmers’ income in Eastern India

Abstract

As doubling farmers’ income has become the National agenda in India, therefore strategic engagement with small and marginal farmers has been prioritized. This paper illustrates the concept of an innovative model ‘Small Farmers, Large Field (SFLF)’, that has manifold benefits. The paper highlights the learnings from the SFLF pilot project in Odisha, an eastern India State. The model was piloted by International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in two villages (the first village having male farmers only and the second village having all women farmers as SFLF members) of Odisha. The basics of the model are that smallholders join and decide to grow a crop of one or two varieties, synchronize all the agricultural operations (seed to seed) as a group/ community and gain higher bargaining power while dealing with service providers, dealers, and paddy traders/millers. The overall findings from the project are- reduced cost of production of paddy, increased grain yield, comparatively higher price over prevailed market price, enhanced farmers’ gross income and net profit.