Lok Sabha Question No. 44 (STARRED), answered on 2018-02-06
Subject: National Conference on Agriculture for Kharif and Rabi Campaigns
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE

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

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 44

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6 TH  FEBRUARY, 2018

## NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AGRICULTURE FOR KHARIF AND RABI CAMPAIGNS

- *44.     DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN: SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण ½ãâ¨ããè be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government organizes National Conferences on Agriculture for Kharif and Rabi campaigns before each crop season with the officials of State Governments/UT Administrations,  research  scientists  and  extension  functionaries  to  formulate  strategy  for Kharif and Rabi crops and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of the area under cultivation of Rabi crops during the current season as compared to the last season, crop and State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether the overall sown area of Rabi crops has dipped as compared to that of the last year, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the practice of unplanned growing of crops is still prevalent in various parts of the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard and the outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण

- (a) to (e):

½ãâ¨ããè (SHRI RADHA MOHAN SINGH) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 44    DUE FOR REPLY ON 6 TH  FEBRUARY, 2018.

(a) : Yes Madam,  Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare organizes two National Conferences on Agriculture for Kharif and Rabi Campaigns  every  year. The Conferences  are  organized  over  two  days  before  the  commencement  of  each  crop season.  Main objectives of the conference are; (i) To review production performance of preceding crop season; (ii) To develop Crop productions strategy for ensuing season; (iii)  To  discuss  Crop-wise    production  targets  with  state  Government  officials;  (iv)  To ensure  Input  supply  position;  (v)  To  exchange  experiences  with  the  States    on    new technology and innovation in Agriculture. The Conference provides a unique opportunity  for  discussions  on  important  topics  related  to  Agriculture  and  schemes  / programmes for the development of Agriculture and allied sector.  The Conference is attended by the scientists  and officials of  States / UTs, Central Ministries/ Departments concerned and National Level Organizations.

(b) & (c): As  per  the  reports  of  the  State  Government,  area  coverage  under  rabi 2017-18  is  632.34  lakh  hectare  as  compared    641.72  lakh  hectare  last  year  as  on 2.2.2018, which is less by 1.46 %.  The normal  rabi area  (average of 5 years) is 623.43 lakh  hectare.  The  Crop  -wise  and    state-wise  sown  area  under  rabi  crops  as  on 2.2.2018 is at Annexure-I & II, respectively.

(d)  &  (e):        Farmer's  decision  on  the  choice  of  crops  to  be  planted  depends  upon  a number  of  factors  and  to  help  them  in  making  proper  choices,  advisories  are  issued from  time  to  time  and    Minimum  Support  Prices  (MSPs)    are  announced  before  the sowing season. Central Research      Institute for   Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) - Indian

-2-

Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR),  in  technical  collaboration  with  stakeholders from  National  Agricultural  Research  Systems  including  State  Agriculture  Universities (SAUs),  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs)    and  line  departments,  develop  contingency plans  to  cope  with  contingency  situations  such  as  droughts,  floods,  hall  storms, unseasonal  rains  and  heat  wave  etc.  State  Governments  are  sensitized  about  the agricultural  contingencies  to  address  these  issues  in  a  holistic  way  for  the  ultimate benefit of the farming community of the country. Advisories are issued to the States & farmers to maximize their production sowing latest technologies of crop production, and to educate farmers, demonstrations and trainings are organized at farmers field under various  crop  development  programmes  including  National  Food  Security  Mission (NFSM), Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern India (BGREI) and National Mission on Oilseed & Oilpalm (NMOOP).

Under the Centrally Sponsored  Scheme  on  'Support  to State Extension Programs for Extension Reforms (ATMA)' implemented in 676 districts of 29 states & 3 UTs of the country grants-in-aid is released to the State Governments for revitalizing the extension  system  and  making  available  the  latest  agricultural  technologies  to  the farmers different thematic areas to increase agricultural production.  The activities under ATMA  include Farmers Training, Demonstrations, Exposure Visits, Kisan Mela, Mobilization of Farmers Groups and organizing Farm Schools etc.

In  order  to  increase  production  and  acreage  of  Rabi  and  Khairf  crops  in  the country, Government of India is implementing through State Governments several Crop Development  Schemes  /  Programmes  such  as  NFSM,  Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana (RKVY),   BGREI,    NMOOP,    National    Mission for   Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA),

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), Soil Health Card (SHC) etc.  Under these Schemes / Programmes, funds are provided to States for implementation of Statespecific  agricultural  strategies including incentives  to farmers for use of  quality seeds; Integrated  Nutrient  Management  (INM),  Integrated  Pest  Management  (IPM),  farmmechanization etc.,

Further,  in  order  to  increase  the  production  of  field  crops  in  the  country,  crop based  institutes  and  All  India  Coordinated  Research  Projects  (AICRPs)  of  Indian Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  undertake  research  programmes  to  develop high  yielding  varieties  /  hybrids.    As  a  result  of  concerted  efforts,  a  total  of  907  high yielding varieties / hybrids of field crops were released during 2012-2017 for cultivation in  different  states  and  agri-ecologies.    Front  line  demonstrations  were  organized  to demonstrate  the  new  technologies,  including  IPM  and  farmers  training  programmes, farmers'  fairs,  farmers'  field  days,  etc.  were  also  organized  for  awareness  generation among the farmers so that they can adopt new varieties and technologies to increase production.

Annexure-I

Statement referred to in Reply to Parts (b) & (c) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 44 due for reply on 06.02.2018.

## Progress of area coverage under Rabi crops as on 02.02.2018

(Area in lakh hectare)

| Sl. No.                                      | Crops                                        | Normal Rabi Area (DES)                       | Area Sown                                    | Area Sown                                    | Difference over                              | %Increase (+)/ decrease over                 |
|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
| Sl. No.                                      | Crops                                        | Normal Rabi Area (DES)                       | 2017-18*                                     | 2016-17                                      | 2016-17                                      | 2016-17                                      |
| 1                                            | Wheat                                        | 301.74                                       | 300.70                                       | 317.82                                       | -17.11                                       | -5.38                                        |
| 2                                            | Rice**                                       | 36.53                                        | 28.61                                        | 24.21                                        | 4.40                                         | 18.18                                        |
| 3                                            | Total Pulses                                 | 139.52                                       | 166.47                                       | 158.02                                       | 8.45                                         | 5.34                                         |
| a                                            | Gram                                         | 86.81                                        | 107.24                                       | 99.04                                        | 8.20                                         | 8.28                                         |
| b                                            | Lentil                                       | 14.16                                        | 17.34                                        | 17.25                                        | 0.09                                         | 0.55                                         |
| c                                            | Fieldpea                                     | 9.93                                         | 11.90                                        | 11.93                                        | -0.03                                        | -0.26                                        |
| d                                            | Kulthi                                       | 2.25                                         | 4.24                                         | 3.71                                         | 0.53                                         | 14.30                                        |
| e                                            | Urdbean                                      | 7.90                                         | 8.47                                         | 9.21                                         | -0.74                                        | -8.07                                        |
| f                                            | Moongbean                                    | 9.54                                         | 7.15                                         | 6.31                                         | 0.83                                         | 13.22                                        |
| g                                            | Lathyrus                                     | 5.06                                         | 3.90                                         | 4.22                                         | -0.32                                        | -7.59                                        |
| h                                            | Other Pulses                                 | 3.87                                         | 6.22                                         | 6.34                                         | -0.12                                        | -1.94                                        |
| 4                                            | Total Coarse cereals                         | 64.28                                        | 56.27                                        | 57.23                                        | -0.96                                        | -1.68                                        |
| a                                            | Jowar                                        | 37.53                                        | 30.93                                        | 32.18                                        | -1.24                                        | -3.86                                        |
| b                                            | Bajra                                        | 3.85                                         | 0.29                                         | 0.18                                         | 0.11                                         | 60.99                                        |
| c                                            | Ragi                                         | 0.35                                         | 0.72                                         | 0.44                                         | 0.28                                         | 62.19                                        |
| d                                            | Maize                                        | 15.80                                        | 16.71                                        | 16.26                                        | 0.44                                         | 2.72                                         |
| e                                            | Barley                                       | 6.75                                         | 7.62                                         | 8.16                                         | -0.55                                        | -6.71                                        |
| 5                                            | Total Oilseeds                               | 81.47                                        | 80.29                                        | 84.44                                        | -4.16                                        | -4.92                                        |
| a                                            | Rapeseed & Mustard                           | 60.91                                        | 66.84                                        | 70.60                                        | -3.76                                        | -5.33                                        |
| b                                            | Groundnut                                    | 8.22                                         | 6.04                                         | 6.03                                         | 0.01                                         | 0.12                                         |
| c                                            | Safflower                                    | 1.96                                         | 0.81                                         | 1.05                                         | -0.24                                        | -23.00                                       |
| d                                            | Sunflower                                    | 4.33                                         | 1.70                                         | 1.69                                         | 0.01                                         | 0.58                                         |
| e                                            | Sesamum                                      | 2.97                                         | 0.53                                         | 0.65                                         | -0.12                                        | -18.83                                       |
| f                                            | Linseed                                      | 2.93                                         | 4.01                                         | 3.84                                         | 0.17                                         | 4.38                                         |
| g                                            | Other Oilseeds                               | 0.15                                         | 0.36                                         | 0.58                                         | -0.22                                        | -37.36                                       |
|                                              | Total Rabi Crops                             | 623.53                                       | 632.34                                       | 641.72                                       | -9.38                                        | -1.46                                        |
| All figures are rounded off into two digits. | All figures are rounded off into two digits. | All figures are rounded off into two digits. | All figures are rounded off into two digits. | All figures are rounded off into two digits. | All figures are rounded off into two digits. | All figures are rounded off into two digits. |

*Based on preliminary estimates of the States, ** Paddy planting is continue in some parts of southern and North Eastern States

Annexure-II

Statement referred to in Reply to Parts (b) & (c) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 44 due for reply on 06.02.2018.

## State-wise area Coverage of Rabi Crops as on 02.02.2018 Area in Lakh ha

| S.No.   | State                   | Normal Area (DES)   | Area Sown              | Area Sown           | Difference of 2016-17 over   | %Increase (+)/decrease (-) over   |
|---------|-------------------------|---------------------|------------------------|---------------------|------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| S.No.   | State                   | Normal Area (DES)   | 2017-18 (Current year) | 2016-17 (Last year) | Last year 2016-17            | 2016-17                           |
| 1       | Andhra Pradesh          | 22.63               | 20.61                  | 17.59               | 3.014                        | 17.133                            |
| 2       | Arunachal Pradesh       | 0.43                | 0.43                   | 0.44                | -0.009                       | -2.100                            |
| 3       | Assam                   | 4.16                | 4.33                   | 4.32                | 0.010                        | 0.231                             |
| 4       | Bihar                   | 31.49               | 34.17                  | 33.86               | 0.310                        | 0.915                             |
| 5       | Chhattisgarh            | 8.42                | 12.76                  | 13.46               | -0.700                       | -5.199                            |
| 6       | Gujarat                 | 24.19               | 17.35                  | 15.98               | 1.369                        | 8.569                             |
| 7       | Haryana                 | 32.22               | 32.08                  | 31.81               | 0.270                        | 0.849                             |
| 8       | Himachal Pradesh        | 3.96                | 4.04                   | 4.08                | -0.040                       | -0.988                            |
| 9       | Jharkhand               | 6.19                | 9.69                   | 8.53                | 1.163                        | 13.641                            |
| 10      | J&K                     | 3.67                | 2.85                   | 2.67                | 0.177                        | 6.635                             |
| 11      | Karnataka               | 32.73               | 31.61                  | 26.68               | 4.923                        | 18.449                            |
| 12      | Kerala                  | 0.49                | 0.88                   | 0.85                | 0.030                        | 3.529                             |
| 13      | Madhya Pradesh          | 102.32              | 111.24                 | 118.69              | -7.450                       | -6.277                            |
| 14      | Maharashtra             | 54.74               | 49.93                  | 55.03               | -5.102                       | -9.272                            |
| 15      | Odisha                  | 8.49                | 14.83                  | 13.91               | 0.911                        | 6.546                             |
| 16      | Punjab                  | 36.07               | 35.65                  | 35.64               | 0.010                        | 0.028                             |
| 17      | Rajasthan               | 73.45               | 70.14                  | 78.62               | -8.483                       | -10.790                           |
| 18      | Tamil Nadu              | 10.86               | 21.99                  | 16.22               | 5.779                        | 35.640                            |
| 19      | Telangana               | 10.62               | 9.55                   | 9.96                | -0.410                       | -4.116                            |
| 20      | Uttar Pradesh           | 120.73              | 128.08                 | 132.38              | -4.293                       | -3.243                            |
| 21      | Uttarakhand             | 4.30                | 4.21                   | 4.22                | -0.010                       | -0.237                            |
| 22      | West Bengal             | 26.09               | 13.60                  | 14.79               | -1.193                       | -8.066                            |
| 23      | Total (22 major states) | 618.26              | 630.00                 | 639.73              | -9.725                       | -1.520                            |
|         | All-India               | 623.53              | 632.34                 | 641.72              | -9.384                       | -1.462                            |

*****