Lok Sabha Question No. 584 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-06
Subject: Agricultural Crisis
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL, RANJANBEN BHATT, SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV

O.I.H

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

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.584

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6 TH  FEBRUARY, 2018

## AGRICULTURAL CRISIS

584.   SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL: SHRIMATI RANJANBEN BHATT: SHRI SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV:

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

- (a) whether the Government has conducted any study to identify the areas which are facing agricultural crisis in the country;
- (b) if so, the details and the outcome thereof;
- (c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to solve the problem of agricultural crisis in the country; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes to promote the use of modern agricultural techniques instead  of  conventional  method  for  sustainable  growth  and  development  in  the  agriculture sector 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  GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) & (b): No, Madam.

(c): Agrarian  distress  as  manifest  from  large  number  of  farmers  living  below  the  poverty (BPL) line and unfortunate incidents of suicides can be addressed by enabling the farmers to increase  their  income.    Agriculture  is  state  subject.  However,  the  Government  is  targeting  to double  the  income  of  the  farmers  by  the  year  2022.    To  achieve  this,  the  Department  of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers' Welfare has constituted an Inter-Ministerial Committee to examine various dimensions of farmers' income and to recommend an appropriate strategy.  In the meanwhile, the Government is realigning its interventions to focus on income of farmers in addition  to  better  production  issues.  The  Department  is,  therefore,  implementing  various schemes  to  meet  this  objective  viz.  Soil  Health  Card  (SHC)  scheme,  Neem  Coated  Urea, Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY),  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchai  Yojana  (PMKSY), National Agriculture Market Scheme (e- NAM), Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), Interest Subvention Scheme etc.

(d): Scheme  on  Submission  on  Agricultural    Mechanisation  (SMAM)  is  being  operated  in which  financial assistance as cost subsidy is being provided for individual ownership of farm machinery.

In  order  to  achieve  fast  paced growth and increasing agricultural production, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has prioritized research and development programmes in rice, wheat, maize, millets, fodder crops, oilseeds, pulses, sugarcane, cotton and other fiber crops.

The  crop·  improvement  programmes  lay  emphasis  on  development  of  new  crop varieties/hybrids  with  improved  quality  and  tolerance/resistance  to  biotic  and  abiotic  stresses and enabling crops to withstand extremities of weather.

Improved varieties and production technologies were also demonstrated at the farmers' fields by the ICAR institutes, State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)  through  frontline  demonstrations  (FLD)  programme  to  create  awareness  among farmers.

Kisan  Suvidha  Mobile  App  has  been  launched  by  the  Government  which  provides information to farmers on weather, plant protection, input dealers, agro-advisory and marketing. Besides, Pusa Krishi Mobile App, Agri-Market App and Crop Insurance Mobile App have also been launched for the benefit of farmers.

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