47. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana is intended to mobilise higher investment in 47. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana is intended to mobilise higher investment in agriculture and the National Food Security Mission is intended to bridge yield gaps. I propose to provide 9,954 crore and 2,250 crore, respectively, for these two programmes. ` ` Small and marginal farmers are vulnerable everywhere, and especially so in drought 48. prone and ecologically-stressed regions. Watershed management is crucial to improve productivity of land and water use. I propose to increase the allocation for the integrated watershed programme from 3,050 crore in 2012-13 (BE) to 5,387 crore. ` ` Eminent agricultural scientists have suggested that we start a pilot programme on Nutri- 49. Farms for introducing new crop varieties that are rich in micro-nutrients such as iron-rich bajra, protein-rich maize and zinc-rich wheat. I propose to provide a sum of upto 200 crore to start the ` pilots. Ministry of Agriculture will formulate a scheme and I hope that agri businesses and farmers will come together to start a sufficient number of pilots in the districts most affected by malnutrition. The National Institute of Biotic Stress Management for addressing plant protection issues 50. will be established at Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The Indian Institute of Agricultural Bio-technology will be established at Ranchi, Jharkhand and will serve as a centre of excellence in agricultural bio-technology. A pilot scheme to replant and rejuvenate coconut gardens that was implemented in some 51. districts of Kerala and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands will be extended to the entire State of Kerala, and I propose to provide an additional sum of 75 crore in 2013-14. `

Farmer Producer Organizations Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO), including Farmer Producer Companies (FPC), 52. Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO), including Farmer Producer Companies (FPC), 52. have emerged as aggregators of farm produce and link farmers directly to markets. To signal our support to them, I intend to provide matching equity grants to registered FPOs upto a maximum of 10 lakh per FPO to enable them to leverage working capital from financial institutions. I ` propose to provide 50 crore for this purpose. Besides, a Credit Guarantee Fund will also be ` created in the Small Farmers' Agri Business Corporation with an initial corpus of 100 crore. I ` urge State Governments to support such FPOs through necessary amendments to the APMC Act and in other ways.

##### National Livestock Mission

53. National Livestock Mission will be launched in 2013-14 to attract investment and to 53. National Livestock Mission will be launched in 2013-14 to attract investment and to enhance productivity taking into account local agro-climatic conditions. I propose to provide 307 crore for the Mission. There will be a sub Mission for increasing the availability of feed and ` fodder.

Food Security Food security is as much a basic human right as the right to education or the right to 54. Food security is as much a basic human right as the right to education or the right to 54. health care. The National Food Security Bill is a promise of the UPA Government. I sincerely hope that Parliament will pass the Bill as early as possible. Hon'ble Members will be happy to know that I have set apart 10,000 crore, over and above the normal provision for food subsidy, ` towards the incremental cost that is likely under the Act.