Odisha Farmers 2nd Poorest in India, admits Pradeep Maharathy

ONI Bureau: While both Centre and Odisha Government always boast of doubling the income of farmers with various schemes/measures, situation remains grim in reality. Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy admitted that Odisha Farmers remain 2nd poorest in the country after Bihar. The Minister was replying to a query by Rourkela MLA Dilip Ray in the Assembly.

In 2012-13, the family income of farmers was Rs 53,450 on an average. It declined to Rs 50,304 in 2013-14, again went up to Rs 54,867 in 2014-15, but then came down to Rs 47,988 in 2015-16.

While family income of farmers in Lakshadweep, Delhi and Chandigarh are over Rs 2 lakh, it’s Rs 1,97,981 in Punjab. Several other States such as Haryana, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Andolan & Nicobar Islands have reported family income of over Rs 1 lakh for farmers.

Among all 29 States and 7 Union Territories, Odisha is placed at 35th spot with a family income of Rs 47,988 for farmers and just ahead of Bihar (Rs 36,333).