To correct disparity and ensure social justice along with growth in the agricultural economy of the country, the national Government initiated new programmes like Small Farmers Development Agency (SFDA) and the Marginal Farmers and Agricultural Lobourers Scheme (MFAL) during the fourth plan.
The small and marginal farmers have been broadly defined as the group of farmers having less than two hectares of un-irrigated land. This group also falls substantially within the 48 percent of the rural population estimated to be living below the poverty line (in the year 1970).
The aims of the SFDA are to identify the problems of the small farmers, to prepare appropriate programmes to overcome them and ensure the availability of inputs and credit.
Initially SFDA scheme was introduced in 46 selected districts throughout the Country and 50,000 potentially viable small farmers are assisted in each project area with subsidized irrigation support, land –shaping, soil conservation, improved agricultural implements, customs, service facilities, storage and marketing to make them economically self-sufficient and viable. The scheme is primarily one of supervised credit and supply of inputs. Resources are made available to farmer participants in the shape of 25% subsidy from the Agency and the balance as loans.
The main functions of SFDA were
Identify the target group beneficiaries that are eligible small farmers.
Study and identify their problems.
Formulate suitable economic programmes for making them viable.
Participants