India pledges to double farmers’ incomes – in pictures

Farmer Vilas Dumada, from the small rural village of Nandore, tends the 6,000-square metres of land that he shares with his two brothers, as did his father and grandfather before him.

Women do their laundry in a stream at Nandore. Agriculture is a major contributor to india's economy and it provides livelihoods for many people, particularly in rural India.

A farmer readies to deliver produce for sale to the local wholesale market.

Urmila Vedga runs a small snack stall from the window of her house to augment family income.

About 68 per cent of India's population lives in rural areas, according to the World Bank.

India's farm sector has struggled since monsoon rainfalls have been poor for two consecutive years, which in turn has severely affected crop production.

The rural sector will largely benefit from social sector schemes unveiled by the Indian government, experts say.

Indian farmers wait with their produce for the daily grain auction to begin at a wholesale market.

Women harvest raw cotton at a farm the Yavatmal district of Maharashtra.

The Indian government would allocate 55 billion rupees in the next financial year, which begins next month, to its new crop insurance scheme. Agriculture is a major contributor to the India’s economy. All photos by Subhash Sharma for The National.