M Manjula

Smallholders suffer from low marketable surplus, poor holding capacity, low bargaining power and huge transaction cost in marketing their produce. Agricultural markets in India have been subject to reform processes with the stated intention of improving market access and participation for the primary producers. The three legislations introduced in 2020 are the latest in that direction. This article critically analyses market reforms in India with respect to smallholders’ bargaining position. It also provides insights on the ways and means to improve market participation and the bargaining position of smallholders.

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Doubling India’s Farm Incomes

Vol. 54, Issue No. 23, 08 Jun, 2019

Lalit Kumar, M Manjula, Ramachandra Bhatta, L Venkatachalam, D Suresh Kumar, P Indira Devi, Pranab Mukhopadhyay

The Government of India aims to double farm incomes by 2022. A mechanism of payment for ecosystem services, which would compensate farmers for the value of the non-market agroecosystem services they produce, would address the issues of farm income and the deep ecological crisis in agriculture. This strategy would be within the fiscal ability of the government and would only use the existing allocation for agriculture. The institutional framework required to implement PES already exists. If properly implemented, PES could persuade Indian farmers to adopt ecologically sensitive agricultural practices which, in turn, could double farm income.

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How Gender-sensitive Are India’s Energy Policies?

Vol. 54, Issue No. 3, 19 Jan, 2019

M Manjula

The two flagship energy policies in India—the Integrated Energy Policy and the National Energy Policy—fail to recognise women’s gendered role in production, access to energy, and formulation of energy policies and programmes. Recent gender-sensitive energy programmes like the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and the Saubhagya scheme need to be replicated and scaled up to improve the energy security needs of women.