Lok Sabha Question No. 5243 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Problems of Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, DHARMENDRA YADAV, Shrirang Appa Barne, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5243

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  27 TH  MARCH, 2018

## PROBLEMS OF FARMERS

5243.  DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE:

SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that farmers are facing problems and hardships in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) if  so,  whether  the  Government  has  taken  measures  to  identify  the  major problems of agriculturists in the country and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken to resolve these problems;
- (c) whether quality  seeds  are  out  of  reach  of  majority  of  farmers,  especially  small and marginal  farmers  mainly  because  of  their  exorbitant  prices  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (d) the concrete measures taken to provide good quality seeds to small and marginal farmers at fair prices; and
- (e) the  average  holding  of  farmers  in  the  country,  State/UT-wise  along  with  action taken  to  educate  small  farmers  about  the  benefits  of  co-operative  farming  in  the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान  कयाण ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã  ½ãñâ  Àã·¾ã  ½ãâ¨ããè (  SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a) & (b): Agrarian  distress  is  manifest  from  the  unfortunate  incidents  of  suicides from  various  part  of  the  country.  This  can  be  addressed  by  enabling  the  farmers  to increase their income.  To achieve this, the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare is realigning its interventions to focus on income of farmers in addition to making production better. For this purpose, the Department is 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.

(c) & (d): No, Madam, as reported by the States, 419.41 lakh qtl. certified/ quality seeds are available against the requirement of 371.38 lakh qtl. in the country during the 2017-18.

The Govt. of India is assisting the State Governments and other seed producing agencies for  seed  related  activities  through  various  ongoing  schemes/programmes  of the  Department  including  National  Food  Security  Mission  (NFSM),  Bringing  Green Revolution  in  Eastern  India  (BGREI),National  Mission  on  Oilseeds  and  Oil  Palm (NMOOP), Mission on  Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas  Yojana  (RKVY),  Sub-Mission  on  Seeds  &  Planting  Material  (SMSP)  under National  Mission  on  Agricultural  Extension  &  Technology  (NMAET)  etc.  for  supply  of seeds to the all the farmers including small and marginal farmers at subsidized prices and details are at Annexure-I.

(e): Agriculture Census in India is conducted at five yearly intervals to collect data on various structural characteristics of operational Holdings (defined as 'All land which is used wholly or partly for agricultural production and is operated as one technical unit by one person alone or with others without regard to the title, legal form, size or location') in the country. As per the latest published results of Agriculture 2010-11, average size of operational holdings for various State/ UTs and in the country is at Annexure-II.

The  Government  runs  capacity  building  programmes  for  personnel  of  the cooperative sector under schemes such as, the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), National Council for Cooperative Training (NCCT), National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).

Further,  Government  has  been  laying  special  emphasis  on  dissemination  of information  and  knowledge  transfer  to  the  farmers  through  a  series  of  initiatives  like Extension Reforms, Mass Media Support to Agricultural Extension, Kisan Call Centers, Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centers, Exhibitions/ Fairs etc. Further, a network of 681 Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs)  has  been  established  by  India  Council  of  Agricultural Research  to  facilitate  farmer's  access  to  knowledge  and  information  generated  by Agricultural Universities and ICAR Institutes of the country.

## Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 5243 due for 27.03.2018 Statement in respect  of Part (c) & (d) of the Question  regarding 'Problems of Farmers'

## Details of Assistance/Subsidy for seed distribution provided under various existing Schemes/Programmes implemented by States

|   S. No. | Scheme/Component                                   | Crop                                                                                                          | Scale of Assistance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|----------|----------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | National Food Security Mission(NFSM)               | Rice                                                                                                          | Rs.5000/- per quintal or 50% of seeds cost whichever is less for certified hybrid rice seed distribution. Rs.10/- per kg. or 50% of the cost, whichever is less for certified high yielding varieties certified seed distribution for less than 10 years old varieties.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|        1 | National Food Security Mission(NFSM)               | Wheat                                                                                                         | Rs.10/- per kg. or 50% of the cost whichever is less for certified high yielding varieties seed distribution for less than 10 years old varieties.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|        1 | National Food Security Mission(NFSM)               | Pulses                                                                                                        | Rs.2500/- per quintal or 50% of cost whichever is less for certified seeds distribution for less than 10 years old varieties. Full cost of seed minikits of pulses to the farmers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|        1 | National Food Security Mission(NFSM)               | Coarse cereals- HYVs seed Hybrid seed                                                                         | HYVs Rs.1500/- per quintal or 50% of cost whichever is less for HYVs certified seeds distribution for less than 10 years old varieties.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|        1 | National Food Security Mission(NFSM)               | Coarse cereals- HYVs seed Hybrid seed                                                                         | Rs. 5000/- per quintal or 50% of cost of seeds whichever is less for Hybrid coarse cereal certified seeds distribution for less than 10 years old varieties.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|        2 | Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern India (BGREI) | Rice and Wheat                                                                                                | Distribution of seeds Rs.5000/- per quintal or 50% of seeds cost whichever is less for certified hybrid rice seed distribution. Rs.10/- per kg. or 50% of the cost, whichever is less for certified high yielding varieties certified seed distribution for less than 10 years old varieties.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|        3 | National Mission on Oil Seeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP) | All oilseeds, Hybrid seeds Oil Palm Sprouts Cultivation cost as assistance for gestation period for oil palm. | a) 50% of the cost with a ceiling of Rs. 25 per Kg. of certified seeds except sesame which are not older than 10 years for distribution and Rs. 5000/- per quintal for hybrids and variety of sesame not older than 15 years. b) Full cost of Seed Minikits of high yielding varieties/hybrids which are less than 10 years. (Implementing agency NSC /NAFED/KRIBHCO etc). C) 85% of cost of planting material with a ceiling of Rs. 8000/ha. for entire land holding of farmers for oil palm. D) 50% cost during gestation period for 4 years with ceiling of Rs. 16000/ per ha. for oil palm. |

|   4. | National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET)-Sub- Mission on Seeds & Planting Material (SMSP)   | Seed Village Programme - All Agricultural Crops (60% GOI and 40% State Share)                                                   | Distribution of Seeds To upgrade the quality of farmer saved seed financial assistance for distribution of foundation / certified seeds @ 50% cost of the seeds for Cereals crops and 60% for oilseeds, pulses, green manure and fodder crops is provided for 1 acre area per farmer for production of quality seeds.   |
|------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    4 | National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET)-Sub- Mission on Seeds & Planting Material (SMSP)   | Certified Seed Production of oilseeds, pulses, green manure and fodder crops through Seed Village (60% GOI and 40% State Share) | Distribution of Seeds- Financial assistance for distribution of foundation seeds @75% cost of the seeds of oilseeds, pulses, green manure and fodder crops is provided to the farmers.                                                                                                                                  |
|    5 | National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET)-Sub- Mission on Seeds & Planting Material (SMSP)   | Seed Village Programme - All Agricultural Crops (60% GOI and 40% State Share)                                                   | Distribution of Seeds To upgrade the quality of farmer saved seed financial assistance for distribution of foundation / certified seeds @ 50% cost of the seeds for Cereals crops and 60% for oilseeds, pulses, green manure and fodder crops is provided for 1 acre area per farmer for production of quality seeds.   |
|    5 | National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET)-Sub- Mission on Seeds & Planting Material (SMSP)   | Certified Seed Production of oilseeds, pulses, green manure and fodder crops through Seed Village (60% GOI and 40% State Share) | Distribution of Seeds- Financial assistance for distribution of foundation seeds @75% cost of the seeds of oilseeds, pulses, green manure and fodder crops is provided to the farmers.                                                                                                                                  |

## Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 5243 due for 27.03.2018 Statement in respect  of Part (e) of the Question  regarding 'Problems of Farmers'

## State-wise average size (in ha.) of operational holdings as per Agriculture Census 2010-11

| Sl. No.   | States/UTs        |   Average size of holdings in hectare 2010-11 |
|-----------|-------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| 1         | A & N Islands     |                                          1.85 |
| 2         | Andhra Pradesh    |                                          1.08 |
| 3         | Arunachal Pradesh |                                          3.51 |
| 4         | Assam             |                                          1.1  |
| 5         | Bihar             |                                          0.39 |
| 6         | Chandigarh        |                                          1.29 |
| 7         | Chhattisgarh      |                                          1.36 |
| 8         | D & N Haveli      |                                          1.38 |
| 9         | Daman & Diu       |                                          0.38 |
| 10        | Delhi             |                                          1.45 |
| 11        | Goa               |                                          1.14 |
| 12        | Gujarat           |                                          2.03 |
| 13        | Haryana           |                                          2.25 |
| 14        | Himachal Pradesh  |                                          0.99 |
| 15        | Jammu & Kashmir   |                                          0.62 |
| 16        | Jharkhand*        |                                          1.17 |
| 17        | Karnataka         |                                          1.55 |
| 18        | Kerala            |                                          0.22 |
| 19        | Lakshadweep       |                                          0.27 |
| 20        | Madhya Pradesh    |                                          1.78 |
| 21        | Maharashtra       |                                          1.44 |
| 22        | Manipur           |                                          1.14 |
| 23        | Meghalaya         |                                          1.37 |
| 24        | Mizoram           |                                          1.14 |
| 25        | Nagaland          |                                          6.02 |
| 26        | Odisha            |                                          1.04 |
| 27        | Puducherry        |                                          0.66 |
| 28        | Punjab            |                                          3.77 |
| 29        | Rajasthan         |                                          3.07 |
| 30        | Sikkim            |                                          1.42 |
| 31        | Tamil Nadu        |                                          0.8  |
| 32        | Tripura           |                                          0.49 |
| 33        | Uttar Pradesh     |                                          0.76 |
| 34        | Uttarakhand       |                                          0.89 |
| 35        | West Bengal       |                                          0.77 |
| All India |                   |                                          1.15 |

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