This excellent commentary could be strengthened by consideration of two additional aspects. First, rapid innovation and development of information technologies creates many opportunities for rural villages to be connected to the service sector and create new rural jobs and augment livelihoods, especially for youth.

Second, farming will remain an important source of rural livelihoods for decades to come. Rural livelihoods could be further strengthened by increased farm productivity and profitability, reducing the very large gaps which exist between current yields in typical villages and potential yields with existing crop varieties and animal breeds — consistent with the policy target of doubling farm income by 2022. But agriculture is diverse. The FAO/World Bank farming systems classification and zonation offers a framework for effective targeting of Government and business actions in rural areas. National farming system scientists have also developed useful national typologies and zonation, and the Sustainable and Resilient Farming Systems Intensification Project has defined and mapped farming systems in the Eastern Gangetic Plain.