Lok Sabha Question No. 4051 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-20
Subject: Sustainable Agriculture System for Food Security
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, DHARMENDRA YADAV

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4051

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 20 TH  MARCH, 2018

## SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE SYSTEM FOR FOOD SECURITY

4051.     DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

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

- (a) whether the agriculture sector in the country is facing various challenges due to various reasons caused by nature and people and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to build a profitable, sustainable and environmentfriendly agriculture system to achieve the prime aim of ensuring long-term food security for the population in the country;
- (c) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  whether  the Government of India emphasises the use of science and technology to take the agriculture to new level through research and innovation;
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  innovative  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to achieve their aim and achievement made so far in this regard; and
- (e) whether such innovative measures taken to meet the aim of SDG 2 of United Nation to end hunger and ensure safe nutritious and sufficient food in the country all year round and if so, the details thereof?

## 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.      Indian  Agriculture  is  vulnerable  to  climate  change  &  other  climatic aberrations  in  view  of  the  high  population  depending  on  agriculture,  excessive  pressure  on natural resources.  There have been extreme weather events including extended dry periods, floods, hailstorm, cyclonic rains and winds etc., which caused damage to standing crops.
- (b): Government is taking initiatives to make Indian agriculture sustainable and profitable and environmental friendly. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) which is one of the eight     missions   under National  Action Plan on  Climate Change is being implemented since

2014-15.  NMSA  focuses  on  location  specific  integrated/composite  farming  systems;  soil  and moisture conservation measures; comprehensive soil health management; promotion of organic farming; efficient water management  practices  and  mainstreaming  rainfed  technologies. Besides, sustainable agriculture strategies have been embedded in the development programmes for agriculture and allied sectors of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Some of the major programmes / schemes are National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture(MIDH), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana(PMKSY),  Rashtriya Gokul Mission(RGM), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana(RKVY) etc.  A comprehensive plan is also contemplated for doubling farmers' income by 2022.

(c): To ensure effective use of science and technology for adaptation of Indian agriculture to the climatic aberrations, focus is being given on research and development.   Indian Council of Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  is  implementing  a  network  project  on  National  Innovations  in Climate Resilient Agriculture  (NICRA)  aiming  at enhancing  climate  resilience of Indian agriculture  through  Strategic  Research,  Technology  Demonstration,  Capacity  Building  and Sponsored/  Competitive  Grant  Projects.  The  research  on  adaptation  and  mitigation  covers crops, livestock, fisheries and natural resource management.

(d): ICAR  has  identified  406  climate  resilient  varieties,  66  genotypes  with  enhanced  CO2 fixation and less water & nutrient consumption capacity, 77 genotypes with greater adaptation to drought, flood, salinity & high temperature.

(e): As far as agriculture vertical is concerned, SDG-2 of United Nation 'End hunger, achieve food  security  and  improve  nutrition  and  promote  sustainable  agriculture',  significant  progress has been made in improving food and nutrition security.  For instance, stunting among children less than 5 years has declined from 48% to 38.4% between 2005-06 and 2015-16.  During the same period, the percentage of underweight children has declined from 42.5% to 35.7%.  The absolute levels of stunted and underweight children, however, remain high.  To address this, a number of schemes are implemented. For instance, more than 800 million people are covered in India by providing the food grains at affordable prices through the Public Distribution System (PDS).    The  Mid-Day-Meal  programme  is  providing  nutritions  cooked  meals  to  children  in primary  schools.  Additionally,  food  distribution  governance  is  being  strengthened  through  the digitization of ration cards and online grievance redressal mechanism.

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