Lok Sabha Question No. 903 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-07
Subject: Suicide by Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, T.G. VENKATESH BABU, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, RAM KUMAR SHARMA KUSHWAHA, SANKAR PRASAD DATTA, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, ANANT KUMAR DATTATREYA HEGDE, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, ASADUDDIN OWAISI, BHARATENDRA SINGH

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.876

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  7 TH  FEBRUARY, 2017

## LOSS OF CROPS

876.   SHRI SANJAY KAKA PATIL:

SHRI HARI MANJHI:

SHRI V. PANNEERSELVAM:

SHRI GOPAL SHETTY:

SHRI SANKAR PRASAD DATTA:

SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE      ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान ½ãâ¨ããè

कयाण be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  farmers  have  suffered  huge  losses  due  to  damage  to  their  crops  on account  of  natural  calamities  such  as  drought,  unseasonal  heavy  rains,  hailstorm, inclement weather conditions and pest attacks in various parts of the country during the last three years and the current year and if so, the details thereof, State-wise along with the remedial action taken to avert such losses;
- (b) whether the economic condition of farmers is worsening due to such losses and if so, the details thereof along with the financial assistance/relief provided to them by the Government to mitigate their problems;
- (c) whether  any  programme  has  been  started  to  prevent/manage  the  frequently occurring drought conditions in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to set up several meteorology and environment related centres to provide information to farmers with regard to agriculture at panchayat level in various States and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  announce  any  special  minimum  support price  for  crops  in  the  current  season  following  the  recommendation  of  Swaminathan Committee report and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान  कयाण ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ Àã·¾ã ½ãâ¨ããè AHLUWALIA)

(  SHRI  S.S.

- (a) & (b): The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC & FW)  is  mandated  for  coordination  of  relief  efforts  necessitated  by  drought.  State Governments are  primarily responsible for taking necessary relief in the wake of natural

calamities  and  are  empowered  to  initiate  immediate  relief  measures  to  address  the situation  arising  out  of  drought.  Government  of  India  supplements  the  efforts  of  state Governments  with  financial  assistance.  For  undertaking  relief  measures,  funds  are available  with  the  State  Government  in  the  form  of  State  Disaster  Response  Fund (SDRF).  Additional  financial  assistance,  over  and  above  SDRF,  is  considered  from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for natural calamities of severe nature and is approved on the basis of Memorandum received from State Government in accordance with established procedure, keeping in view items and norms in vogue for assistance.

A number of States were affected by drought and hailstorm of varying magnitude during the years 2013-14 to 2016-17. Memoranda received from the drought affected States for assistance from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) were considered in  accordance  with  the  established  procedure  and  a  statement  indicating  State-wise details  assistance  sought  by  the  respective  State  and  assistance  approved  by  the Government of India from NDRF are indicated in the statement annexed as Annexure-I & II.

(c): Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare through ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), Hyderabad has prepared detailed crop Contingency Plans for  619  districts  .  States  have  been  advised  for  preparing,  updating,  and  fine-tuning Contingency  Plans  for  each  district  in  consultation  with  CRIDA-ICAR  and  the  State Agriculture Universities and to prepare location specific remedial measures based on these contingency plans in the event of late arrival of Monsoon, long dry spells, scanty rainfall, drought  conditions,  tying  up  availability  of  seeds  and  other  inputs  for  implementing  the Contingency Plans.

Availability of Seeds etc. is being monitored and reviewed on a regular basis in the weekly Crop Weather Watch Group (CWWG) meeting being held in the Department. Video Conferences have been held with States to get first-hand information about preparedness and to advise States appropriately whenever needed.

States have   been advised to keep aside about 5 to 10% of funds allocated under Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (RKVY)  for  undertaking  appropriate  interventions,  if  the situation  so  warrants,  to  minimize  the  advance  impact  of  an  aberrant  monsoon  on  the agriculture sector. The Central Government implements Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) / Central Sector (CS) Schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), the Rainfed Area Development Programme (RAD), National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), etc. which contribute towards drought proofing . Twenty five percent of total outlay for all CSS Schemes (except for schemes, which emanate from a legislation,  e.g.,  MGNREGA), can be used as flexi funds to enable mitigation/ restoration activities in cases of natural calamities. In addition several activities can be undertaken  using  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme (MGNREGS)  funds  and  Fourteenth  Finance  Commission  (FFC)  grants  to  rural  and urban local bodies in mitigation of impact in the event of a drought.

To mitigate  the  adverse  impact  of  drought,  State  Governments  are  advised  to initiate  advance  remedial  action  e.g.    constructing  water  harvesting  structures  under MGNREGA    and  other  such  schemes,  promoting  agronomic  practices  for  moisture conservation,  promoting  cultivation    of  less  water  consuming  crops  and  restoring irrigation  infrastructure  by  desilting  canals,  energizing  tube-wells,  replacing/repairing faulty pumps,  to  carry  out  periodic  assessment  of  preparation  for  kharif  crops, particularly  contingency  crops  and also  investment  made  in water conservation structure  under  various  schemes  like  Integrated Watershed  Management  Programme (IWMP) to verify their utility in harvesting the rainfall.

(d): Kisan  Call  Centres  (KCC)  has  been  launched  with  the  basic  aim  to  provide information to farming community through toll  free number on all seven days a week.

m-Kisan Portal subsumes  all mobile based initiatives in the field of agriculture and allied sector. Officers, Scientists and Experts from all organizations and Department of  the  Government  of  India  and  State  Governments  {  including    State  Agricultural Universities  (SAUs),  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs)  and  Agro-  Meteorological  Field Units (AMFUs) }  are using this Portal  for disseminating  information ( giving topical & seasonal  advisories  and  providing  services  through  SMSs  to  farmers  in  their  local languages)  on  various  agricultural  activities  to  registered  farmers.  The  farmers  can register for this service by calling Kisan Call Centre on toll free number1800-180-1551 or through the web portal/SMS.

(e): [The National Commission on Farmers (NCF) under the Chairmanship of Prof. M. S. Swaminathan had recommended that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) should be at least 50% more than the weighted average cost of production].

Government  has  fixed  MSP  for  2016-17  based  on  the  recommendation  of Commission  for  Agricultural  Costs  &  Prices(CACP),  views  of  the  concerned  State Governments  and  Central  Ministries/Departments  and  other  relevant  factors.    While recommending price policy, the CACP considers, inter alia, a number of factors which include cost of production, price trends in market prices, demand and supply situation, effect on general price level, effect on cost of living etc. MSP is recommended by the CACP based on objective criteria and considering variety of relevant factors.

## Annexure-I

## Statement indicating assistance sought by the State Government and assistance approved from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for drought of  2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 & 2016-17 Rs. in crores)

| Sl. No.   | State          | Drought of 2013-14   | Drought of 2013-14   | Drought of 2014-15   | Drought of 2014-15   | Drought of 2015-16      | Drought of 2015-16    | Drought of 2016-17   | Drought of 2016-17   |
|-----------|----------------|----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|-------------------------|-----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|
| Sl. No.   | State          | Assistance sought    | Assistance approved  | Assistance sought    | Assistance approved  | Assistance sought       | Assistance approved   | Assistance sought    | Assistance approved  |
| 1.        | Andhra Pradesh | 638.09               | 254.54               | 1532.00              | 237.51               | 2000.56                 | 433.77                | 2281.79              | #                    |
| 2.        | Bihar          | 12564.04             | 931.87               | -                    | -                    | -                       | -                     |                      |                      |
| 3.        | Chhattisgarh   |                      | -                    | -                    | -                    | 6093.79                 | 1276.25               |                      |                      |
| 4.        | Gujarat        |                      | -                    | -                    | -                    | -                       | -                     |                      |                      |
| 5.        | Haryana        |                      | -                    | 4829.25              | 168.87               | -                       | -                     |                      |                      |
| 6.        | Jharkhand      | -                    | -                    | -                    | -                    | 2142.78                 | 336.94                |                      |                      |
| 7.        | Karnataka      | 778.06               | 226.57               | 779.20               | 200.85               | 3830.84 1417.14         | 1540.20 723.23        | 4702.54 3310.83      | 1782.44 #            |
| 8.        | Kerala         | -                    | -                    | -                    | -                    | -                       | -                     |                      |                      |
| 9.        | Madhya Pradesh | -                    | -                    | -                    | -                    | 5114.53                 | 2032.68               |                      |                      |
| 10.       | Maharashtra    | -                    | -                    | 6013.28              | 1962.99              | 4002.82 2017.54 2251.66 | 3049.36 589.47 679.54 |                      |                      |
| 11.       | Odisha         | -                    | -                    | -                    | -                    | 2344.99                 | 815.00                |                      |                      |
| 12.       | Rajasthan      | -                    | -                    | -                    | -                    | 10537.02                | 1193.41               |                      |                      |
| 13.       | Tamil Nadu     | -                    | -                    | -                    | -                    | -                       |                       | 39565.00             | #                    |
| 14.       | Telangana      | -                    | -                    | -                    | -                    | 2601.17                 | 791.21                |                      |                      |
| 15.       | Uttar Pradesh  | -                    | -                    | 4819.49              | 777.34               | 2057.79                 | 1304.52               |                      |                      |
| 16.       | Uttarakhand    | -                    | -                    | -                    | -                    | 91.97                   | 70.22                 |                      |                      |

# -Proposals are at various stages of processing.

## Annexure -II

## Statement indicating assistance sought by the State Government and assistance approved from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for Hailstorm during  2013-14, 2014-15 & 2015-16

|   Sl. No. | State            | Assistance sought   | Assistance approved   | Assistance sought   | Assistance approved   | Assistance sought   | Assistance approved   |
|-----------|------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|
|         1 | Andhra Pradesh   | 59.71               | 40.06                 | --                  | --                    | --                  | --                    |
|         2 | Bihar            | --                  | --                    | 2041.10             | 791.42                | --                  | --                    |
|         3 | Haryana          | --                  | --                    | 1925.97             | 369.09                | --                  | --                    |
|         4 | Himachal Pradesh | --                  | --                    | 353.395             | 71.534                | --                  | --                    |
|         5 | Karnataka        | 99.12               | 82.77                 | 151.28              | 105.33                | --                  | --                    |
|         6 | Madhya Pradesh   | 5723.65             | 494.95                | --                  | --                    | --                  | --                    |
|         7 | Maharashtra      | 4475.76             | 552.88                | --                  | --                    | --                  | --                    |
|         8 | Rajasthan        | --                  | --                    | 11885.45            | 1447.73               | 4372.27             | 79.18                 |
|         9 | Telangana        | --                  | --                    | 117.59              | 83.74                 | --                  | --                    |
|        10 | Uttar Pradesh    | 500.53              | 270.55                | 7543.70             | 2801.59               | --                  | --                    |

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