Lok Sabha Question No. 4049 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-20
Subject: Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav Programme
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., NARANBHAI KACHHADIA, ANWHAR RAAJHAA, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, SUDHEER GUPTA, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4049 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20/03/2018

## MERA GAON MERA GAURAV PROGRAMME

4049.  SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

SHRI A. ANWHAR RAAJHAA:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of programmes initiated by the Government for the benefit of farmers of the country;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  started  a  programme,  called  'Mera  Gaon  Mera Gaurav';
- (c) if  so,  the  number  of  scientists  shortlisted  from  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural Research (ICAR) for this programme during the current year;
- (d) the number of farmers and villages already benefited through the said programme so far; and
- (e) the further steps taken/being taken by the ICAR to develop techniques for organic farming in the country?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f'k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h

## (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has established a network of 686 Krishi Vigyan  Kendras (KVKs)  in the country mandated  with  Technology Assessment  and  Demonstration  for  its  Application  and  Capacity  Development.  KVKs organize  demonstrations,  training  programs  and  skill  development  programs  for  the benefit of farmers and farm women, rural youth and in-service extension personnel.

(b), (c) & (d): Yes,  the  Government  has  launched  'Mera  Gaon  Mera  Gaurav' Scheme  in  August  2015  to  encourage  agricultural  scientists  of  NARES  working  with ICAR institutes and Agricultural Universities to establish direct interface with identified villages  and  give  suitable  advice  on  farm  technologies  to  the  farmers  on  technical  and other related aspects in a time frame through personal visits or on telephone. Under this scheme, a group of about 4 scientists each consisting of different disciplines from ICAR Institutes and Agricultural Universities have identified about 5 villages.  Scientists also create  awareness  among  farmers  on  important  issues  like  climate  change,  customized technologies, protective measures, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and other issues of local and national importance.  Under the program, scientists visited 13500 villages regularly and provided advisory to the 3.5 Lakh farmers.

(e) All  India  Coordinated  Research  Project  (AICRP)  on  cropping  system  is  being implemented  by  ICAR-Indian  Institute  of  Farming  Systems  Research  (ICAR-IIFSR), Modipuram which also deals with organic farming technologies.  Apart from this, ICARNational  Organic  Farming  Research  Institute  (ICAR-NOFRI)  has  been  established  in Sikkim to cater the needs of the farmers.

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