Lok Sabha Question No. 2805 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-13
Subject: Productivity of Crops
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: SHIVKUMAR CHANABASAPPA UDASI

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2805

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 13 TH   MARCH, 2018

## PRODUCTIVITY OF CROPS

2805.  SHRI SHIVKUMAR UDASI:

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

- (a) whether farmers are poor due to low productivity (yield per hectare) of all major crops in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the factors responsible for low productivity of agriculture in the country;
- (c) whether  the  increase  in  agricultural  productivity  requires  greater  investment  in  farm inputs; and
- (d) if so, the steps taken to increase investment, both public and private in agriculture in the country?

## ANSWER

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

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) & (b): The  low  level  of  income  of  farmers  is  attributable  inter-alia  to  low  or  marginal agricultural  land  holdings,  traditional  methods  of  farming,  non-use  of  quality  seeds,  poor  soil health,  low  irrigation  facilities,  access  to  institutional  credit  etc  which  may  result  in  lower productivity  &  output;  to  poor  farm  gate  prices  realization  owing  to  inadequate  access  to marketing facilities  &  post-harvest  support  services;  and  inadequate  income  supplementation from allied  sectors.    The  factors for  low  productivity  of  agriculture  in  the  country  also  owe  to stress (moisture, temperature), varied agro-climatic conditions, etc.  Several biotic and abiotic stresses also affect crop yields.

(c) & (d): The  productivity  in  agriculture  can  be  enhanced  by  various  factors  like  the coverage  of  irrigation,  levels  of  farm  mechanization,  use  of  high  yielding  varieties  of  seeds, fertilizers etc.  Thus, investment in agriculture sector is of vital importance.

Government of India has taken several steps to channelize greater investment through various schemes  in farm inputs, irrigation, marketing, post-harvest management,  food processing,  capacity  building  etc.    Some  of  the  Schemes/programmes  are  Pradhan  Mantri Krishi  Sinchai  Yojana  (PMKSY),  Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (RKVY),  National  Agriculture Market  Scheme  (e-NAM),  Soil  Health  Card  (SHC),  Pradhan  Mantri  Fasal  Bima  Yojana (PMFBY),  Long  Term  Irrigation  Fund  (LTIF)  in  National  Bank  For  Agriculture  And  Rural Development (NABARD), etc.

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) scheme is a major scheme for incentivizing States to  increase  investment  in  agriculture  and  allied  sectors.    RKVY  has  been  approved  for continuation  for  three  years  i.e.  2017-18  to  2019-20  as  Remunerative  Approaches  for Agriculture & allied Sector Rejuvenation i.e. (RKVY-RAFTAAR) which aims at making farming as  a  remunerative  economic  activity.    The  new  Guidelines  provide  for  major  allocation  for creation of production and post-production infrastructure, beside promoting agri-enterprises and incubation facilities.

Moreover, Government has recently approved implementation of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) and setting up Dairy Processing & Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF) for development of infrastructure in agriculture and allied sector in the country.

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