Odisha Farmers’ Income Rose Only By Rs 136 Between 2012 And 2018

The average monthly income of an agricultural household in Odisha increased by Rs 136 in the last six years, State Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment Minister Arun Sahoo informed the Assembly on Wednesday.  

Replying to a query of BJP MLA Mohan Majhi, Sahoo informed that the average income of farm families in the State increased by Rs 136 in the period between 2012 and 2018, a rise of only 2.73 per cent. 

Citing the 70th round ‘Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households’ conducted by the National Survey Organisation (NSO) in 2012-13, the Minister said a farmer's family in the State used to earn Rs 4976 per month in 2012-13 and Rs 59712 annually. 

However, as per the 77th round ‘Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households’, the income increased by Rs 136 to Rs 5112 per month and Rs 61344 per annum in 2018-19.

As per the statement of the minister, a farmer’s family in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal are earning far more than the household in Odisha. A farmer family in Andhra Pradesh used to earn Rs 5979 in 2012-13 which increased to Rs 10480 in 2018-19, an increase of 75.28 per cent. 

The average farmer’s income at the all India level was Rs 6426 in 2012-13 which increased to Rs 10218 in 2018-19. 

It can be reminded that Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had in December last year informed the Lok Sabha that the average monthly income of farmer families in Odisha was the second-lowest in the country after Jharkhand. 

While a farmer family in Odisha earned Rs 5,112 per month from July 2018 to June 2019, Jharkhand was at the bottom with an average monthly income of Rs 4,895.