Who qualifies as an Indian farmer and why it matters

India Today

a day ago

Who is a real farmer? One who owns the land or one whose income comes from agriculture? The question has long been debated in policy circles, and especially now as rural economies increasingly depend on non-farm activities.The Agriculture Census (2015-16) and the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme define a farmer as anyone who owns a farm, even if their main source of income isn't agriculture. Based on this, the estimated number of farmers in India falls between 110 million and 146.5 million.advertisementBut here's the catch: this definition leaves out India's 12.5 million landless farmers—often the most marginalised—who work on leased land. Since they don't technically own land, they're excluded from most government subsidies, welfare schemes and even insurance programmes aimed at supporting farmers.So why does this question matter? Because in India, being classified as a farmer comes with access to a lot of benefits, says Rajesh Shukla, CEO, managing director and co-founder of the not-for-profit think-tank People Research on India's Consumer Economy (PRICE). Farmers get input subsidies, support for fertilisers, electricity, irrigation, and more.
A PRICE primary research paper, 'Reimagining Annadata Households and Their Livelihoods Beyond the Farm', suggests only 20.7 per cent of rural households—around 68.4 million—are fully dependent on agriculture. The majority of rural households—42.4 per cent or around 140 million—earn from agriculture but are not completely reliant on it.advertisementThe study also points out that of the 68.4 million rural households fully dependent on agriculture, only 55.9 million own agricultural land. The remaining 12.5 million are tenanted farmers—they cultivate land but don't own it. These tenanted farmers, often left out of policy frameworks, form one of the most vulnerable groups in the agri sector.This issue becomes even more important when you consider that the number of households fully dependent on farming has been steadily declining over the decades. In 1975-76, full-time agricultural households made up 42 per cent of all households in India. By 2024-25, that figure is projected to drop to just 21 per cent.But here's something worth noting: despite the decline in proportion, the absolute number of full-time agricultural households has grown, simply because of India's rising population. Back in 1975-76, there were around 41 million Annadata households. By 2024-25, this number is expected to hit 68.4 million.The story of full-time agricultural households is a bit of a mixed bag, says Shukla. On the one hand, things have improved—many families now earn more, thanks to non-farm income and some asset ownership. But financial pressures remain—high expenses, rising debt and the struggle of managing with small landholdings. Add to that the regional and caste-based inequalities, and the picture gets more complex.advertisementAs agricultural households continue to diversify, it's clear that we need a more inclusive and flexible definition of who qualifies as a farmer. Only then can government schemes truly reach the right people and it can be ensured that no deserving group is left behind.Subscribe to India Today Magazine