Lok Sabha Question No. 585 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-19
Subject: Reform in Agriculture Sector by  NITI Aayog
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: GANESH SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.585

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19 TH   DECEMBER, 2017

## REFORM IN AGRICULTURE SECTOR BY NITI AAYOG

585. SHRI GANESH SINGH:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the draft prepared by the NITI Aayog for reforms in agriculture  sector  and  doubling  farmers'  income  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (b) whether the pace of agriculture reform is quite slow in States due to which farmers are in a state of dismay and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has identified the unemployed farmers in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to create employment opportunities for such farmers and to bring down excessive dependency on agriculture sector?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI  PARSHOTTAM  RUPALA)

- (a): Yes,  Madam.   The Government is aware of the roadmap outlined by NITI Aayog for reforms in agriculture sector and doubling farmers income by 2022. The Roadmap presents a quantitative  framework  for  doubling  farmers'  income  which  has  identified  seven  sources  of growth. These are:
- (i)   increase in productivity of crops.
- (ii)  increase in production of livestock.
- (iii) improvement in efficiency of input use (cost saving).
- (iv) increase in crop intensity.
- (v) diversification towards high value crops.
- (vi) improved price realization by farmers.
- (vii) shift of cultivators to non-farm jobs.

This Policy paper was shared with the States/UTs for devising a relevant strategy so as to realize the goal of doubling farmers' income by 2022. Apart from the above, the Department has also constituted an Inter-Ministerial Committee for recommending suitable strategy.

(b): Agriculture is a State subject and the State Governments are primarily responsible for the growth and development of agriculture sector in their respective States. The role of Central Government is  to  supplement  the  efforts  of  States  through  appropriate  policy  measures  and budgetary support.

(c): The  National  Sample  Survey  Office  (NSSO) conducted 'Situation  Assessment  Survey (SAS) of Agricultural Households' during NSS 70 th round (January 2013- December 2013) in the rural areas of the country with reference to the agricultural year July 2012- June 2013. The information on unemployed farmers in the country is not available in the data collected during the above NSSO survey.

(d): The  Department  is  working  out  specific  interventions  for  promoting  ancillary  activities like bee-keeping and also finalizing farm sector programmes under the 'Skill India' programme to improve employment opportunities and to reduce over dependence on the agriculture sector.

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