Small Farmer Large Field concept: UPSC Prelims PYQ 2023
Which one of the following best describes the concept of ‘Small Farmer Large Field’?
- Resettlement of a large number of people, uprooted from their countries due to war, by giving them a large cultivable land which they cultivate collectively and share the produce
- Many marginal farmers in an area organize themselves into groups and synchronize and harmonize selected agricultural operations
- Many marginal farmers in an area together make a contract with a corporate body and surrender their land to the corporate body for a fixed term for which the corporate body makes a payment of agreed amount to the farmers
- A company extends loans, technical knowledge and material inputs to a number of small farmers in an area so that they produce the agricultural commodity required by the company for its manufacturing process and commercial production
Explanation
Option (b) is correct
- Many marginal farmers in an area organise themselves into groups and synchronise and harmonise selected agricultural operations, best describes the concept of ‘Small Farmer Large Field‘. The SFLF was conceptualised in Vietnam in 2011. In this, the farmers organised themselves into groups and synchronised their operations, such as nursery bed management, transplanting, and harvesting, collectively to achieve economies of scale. The SFLF farmers purchased inputs (seed and fertiliser) and sold paddy as a group to increase their bargaining power in price negotiations.
- An overwhelming majority of the Indian farmers, around 80 per cent, are small and marginal farmers, with less than one hectare of farmland per family. With the goal of doubling farmers’ income becoming a national priority in India, strategic engagement with small and marginal farmers has been emphasised.
- It is crucial for the country to reassess its agricultural strategy to better support these farmers. An innovative approach, such as the ‘small farmers, large field’ (SFLF) model, could offer a promising solution.
Image Source: Indian Council of Agricultural Research
Answer: (b) Many marginal farmers in an area organize themselves into groups and synchronize and harmonize selected agricultural operations; Difficulty Level: Medium
