Weathering the Storm: Farmer Resilience and Adaptive Strategies to Crop Losses

by A. Amarender Reddy

Overview

Smallholder farmers face relentless challenges from pests, diseases, and the severe impacts of climate change across developing countries. Each year, they endure droughts and floods, thrusting them into a vicious cycle of poverty and distress. Weathering the Storm: Farmer Resilience and Strategies for Crop Losses provides a vital exploration of these issues, offering insights into the struggles and resilience of farmers in the wake of devastating crop losses.

Drawing on data from 1,440 farmers who faced severe crop losses in three states namely Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka of India, the book uncovers:

• Staggering Losses: Crop losses range from 30% to 100%, causing financial damages of three to five lakhs rupees per farmer
• Government Response: A critical analysis of various assistance programs, highlighting the effectiveness of schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and YSR free crop insurance
• Resilience Strategies: Insights into the self-adopted strategies farmers use to cope with challenges, alongside governmental support
• Effective Governance: Examines Andhra Pradesh’s decentralized governance model as a best practice for rapid response
• Farmers Distress Index (FDI): Introduction of an innovative forewarning system to identify farmers and areas in urgent need of intervention

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032947488
Publisher:	CRC Press
Publication date:	06/17/2025
Pages:	198
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

A. Amarender Reddy, an agricultural economist and Joint Director of Policy Support Research at the ICAR-National Institute of Biotic Stress Management (ICAR-NIBSM) in Raipur, explores the intricate challenges of agrarian distress and champions holistic solutions. This insightful book is a must-read for anyone passionate about the future of agriculture and the resilience of rural livelihoods.

Table of Contents

1

Introduction: Farmers' Journey Through Uncertainty

2

Exploring the Unpredictable Agriculture

3

Strategies for gathering evidence

4

Farmer Assets and Wealth Dynamics

5

Story of Farmer's Land

6

Exploring Farmers Income: A Tale of Harvesting Hope

7

Patterns in Household Savings

8

Debt Burden of the Households

9

Investigating Crop Losses and Recovery

10

Barriers to Adopting Antifragile Farming Practices

11

Understanding Farmer's Perception of Risk

12

Psychological Stress- Another Burden of Farmers

13

Crop Yield Losses and Economic Costs

14

Bridging the Gaps: Government Welfare Schemes and Their Reach

15

Effects of Farmer Loan Waivers

16

Farmers Distress Index

17

Scaling Up of Antifragile Strategies