A Generation Turns Its Back
Step into almost any village across India — from the wheat belts of Punjab to the paddy fields of Bihar — and you’ll notice something strange. The fields are still there. The tractors still roll. But something is missing.
The youth.
While older farmers continue to plough, water, and harvest, their children are leaving — not just for jobs, but for different lives altogether. Some are gig workers in cities. Others run shops. Many are stuck in exam cycles. But fewer and fewer want to take over the family farm.
This isn’t a protest. It’s not even a rebellion. It’s quieter than that — a silent migration away from agriculture, one student, one dream at a time.
Part I: Meet the Young Who Chose to Leave
Ravi, 19, from a village near Satna, Madhya Pradesh, says:
“My father has three acres of land. We used to grow wheat. I’m in Delhi now, delivering groceries for a startup. I earn ₹18,000 a month. It’s not glamorous, but I’m not waiting for the rain.”
Meena, 21, from rural Bihar, gave up her B.Sc. midway to learn basic computer skills.
“My brother farms. Every year we take loans for seeds. And every year there’s either drought or price crash. I want something where I don’t feel powerless.”
These aren’t outliers. They represent a new wave of rural youth choosing anything but farming.
Part II: What’s Driving the Exodus?
1. Low and Unpredictable Income
Despite being the primary source of livelihood for nearly 45% of India’s workforce, agriculture contributes just 15–17% to GDP. For smallholders (those with less than 2 hectares), the average monthly income is around ₹10,000 — often less when accounting for debt.
2. Climate Risks
Changing rainfall patterns, frequent droughts, and rising input costs (seeds, fertilizer, diesel) make farming increasingly uncertain.
3. Lack of Dignity
This is rarely talked about but deeply felt. Many youth see farming as a low-prestige profession, associated with hardship and struggle, not success or respect.
“I want to wear formals, sit in an office, and be called ‘sir.’ My father works harder than anyone — and people still call him ‘kisan’ like it’s a bad word,” says Rakesh, 22, from Haryana.
4. Urban Dreams & Social Media Influence
The smartphone revolution has connected youth to urban lifestyles. Aspirations have evolved. Farming, with its isolation and slow pace, struggles to compete with the promise of cities, jobs, and perceived freedom.
Part III: What Happens to the Farms?
This shift leaves a major question: Who will farm tomorrow?
- Many farms are left to ageing parents, who continue till they physically can.
- In some cases, land is rented out to larger farmers or corporations.
- In others, land lies fallow or is sold to real estate developers or industries.
The long-term consequences?
- Decrease in food sovereignty
- Loss of traditional knowledge
- Consolidation of land into fewer hands
- Over-dependence on imports and contract farming
Part IV: Are Government Schemes Reaching the Youth?
India has launched several initiatives to make farming viable and attractive:
- PM-KISAN: ₹6,000/year income support
- eNAM: Digital platform for better market access
- FPOs (Farmer Producer Organizations): Group-based farming with bargaining power
- Agri-Startups & Agritech: Apps for soil testing, weather alerts, price tracking
- Kisan Credit Cards and PM Fasal Bima Yojana (Crop Insurance)
Yet, these schemes mostly benefit existing farmers — not the next generation who want to enter the ecosystem differently: as tech-enabled agri-entrepreneurs, food processors, farm equipment innovators.
Part V: Rethinking Agriculture for the Next Generation
If we want India’s youth to stay connected to farming, we need a new vision of what a “farmer” looks like.
Shift the Narrative:
Make agriculture aspirational — promote “agripreneurs”, showcase youth success stories on social media, and integrate agri-modules in rural schools.
Invest in Agri-Tech Innovation:
Encourage startups that use AI, IoT, and data for precision farming. Rural youth can become tech-savvy farm managers instead of daily laborers.
Skilling and Vocational Education:
Build rural institutions that offer short-term training in modern farming, marketing, food processing, and agri-tourism.
Alternate Pathways in Agriculture:
Not all youth want to sow or reap. Some may want to work in supply chains, digital platforms, organic certifications, or climate-resilient farming consulting. Let’s open those doors.
Voices We Need to Hear
Instead of asking, “Why are they leaving?” maybe we should ask:
“What can we do to help them stay — by choice, not compulsion?”
Youth want dignity, income, freedom, and purpose. Agriculture must offer those, or risk becoming obsolete in their imagination.
✍️ Conclusion: A Silent Revolution Deserves a Loud Response
India’s rural youth are not lazy. They are not “running away” from responsibility. They are adapting to a world that seems to have moved on from the soil their ancestors worshipped.
If agriculture is to survive, it must evolve — not just technologically, but culturally.
The migration is silent, but the message is loud: Reimagine farming, or risk losing a generation that could have saved it.
