Lok Sabha Question No. 2575 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-01
Subject: Facilities to Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: HEMANT TUKARAM GODSE

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2575

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 1 ST  AUGUST, 2017

## FACILITIES TO FARMERS

## 2575.    SHRI GODSE HEMANT TUKARAM:

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

- (a) whether the Government is planning to educate farmers to avail the maximum benefit from the Government bodies and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  most  of  the  facilities  offered  by  the  Government  schemes  in agricultural sector are availed by agro-traders, agro-processors etc. whereas the grassroot level farmers are hardly getting any  benefits therefrom and  if so, the details thereof;  and
- (c) the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard?

## 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) to (c): (i) The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers' Welfare (DAC&FW) has taken up several initiatives in the field of agricultural extension which includes 'Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms' which is popularly known as ATMA Scheme, Mass Media Support to Agricultural Extension and Kisan Call Centres.  In order to enhance physical outreach of extension personnel for their direct interface with the farmers, financial support for specialists and functionaries down to the Block level has been provided. The  key  objectives  of  ATMA  scheme  include  setting  up  of  autonomous  institutions  at  the State/District/Block  level,  encouraging  multi-agency  and  broad-based  extension  strategies adopting group approach to extension and facilitating convergence of programmes in planning, executing  and  implementation.  Under  Mass  Media  scheme,  the  Government  is  educating farmers  through  display  of  exhibits  for  know-how  on  new  tools  and  technology,  creating awareness about schemes, programmes activities being implemented for benefiting and helping farmers. Farmers' education/awareness programmes are being implemented through agriculture fair, exhibitions and use of print, electronic media like Radio, TV and Social Media platforms, etc. Under Kisan Call Centres (KCCs) scheme, farmers' queries are answered on a telephone call in their own dialect between 6.00 AM to 10.00 PM on all seven days.  Presently, these Call Centres are working in 14 different locations covering all the States and UTs.  A Toll Free No.1800-180-1551 has been allotted for this purpose.
- (ii) Kisan  Suvidha  Mobile  App  has  been  launched  by  the  Government  which  provides information  to  the  farmers  on  Weather  report,  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.
- (iii) Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has established a network of 680 Krishi Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs)  in  the  country  with  mandate  of  Technology  Assessment  and Demonstration for its Application and Capacity Development.  A number of activities viz. onfarm trials, front-line demonstrations, creation of awareness on improved agricultural technologies, etc. are conducted by KVKs for the benefit of farmers.

(iv) This  Ministry  is  also  implementing  various  crop  development  schemes  for  increasing production  and  productivity  of  the  crops  in  the  country  viz.  National  Food  Security  Mission (NFSM)  on  rice,  wheat,  pulses,  coarse  cereals  and  Commercial  Crops  (cotton,  jute  & sugarcane);  Bringing  Green  Revolution  to  Eastern  India  (BGREI)  and  Crop  Diversification Programme  (CDP).  Under  these  schemes,  scientific  crop  production  technologies  are  being promoted  at  the  farmers'  field  through  organization  of  cluster  demonstrations  and  training  of farmers with latest crop production technologies such as timely sowing, seed rate, recommended package of practices, etc. for reduction in the cost of cultivation.  Assistance is given  to  farmers  on  distribution  of  improved  seeds/hybrids,  farm  implements/machines, irrigation  devices,  plant  protection  chemicals,  bio-pesticides  for  promoting  Integrated  Pest Management  and  soil  ameliorants,  etc.  through  State  Government.    New  initiatives  like distribution of seed mini-kits of newer varieties of pulses free of cost, production of quality seed, creation of seed hubs at SAU and KVKs, strengthening of bio-fertilizers and bio-agent labs at SAUs/ICAR  Institute,  technological  demonstration  by  KVKs  and  enhancing  up  breeder  seed production have been included under NFSM.

(v) Under NFSM and BGREI, there is a provision of 'Cropping System Based Training' of farmers which includes four sessions i.e. one before Kharif and Rabi Seasons, one each during Kharif  and  Rabi  Seasons.  Under  this  programme,  training  of  trainers/farmers  is  imparted  by Crop/Subject-Matter Specialist of ICAR Institute/SAUs/KVKs on creating awareness about the new high yielding varieties.

(vi) National  Mission  on  Oilseeds  and  Oil  Palm  (NMOOP):  Under  NMOOP  programme, Transfer  of  Technology  (ToT)  component,  assistance  is  provided  to  States  for  conducting Farmers Training and Trainers Training Programme, in which training is provided to the farmers and extension workers educating the farmers to avail the benefits of the programme.

(vii) Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojana  (PMKSY)  -  'Per  Drop  More  Crop':  This Department is implementing 'Per Drop More Crop' component of PMKSY. It mainly focuses on water  use  efficiency  at  farm  level  through  precision/micro  irrigation  (Drip  and  Sprinkler Irrigation).

(viii) Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecological approach which aims to keep pest population  below  economic  thresholds  level  by  employing  available  alternate  pest  control strategies and techniques viz. preventive measures, cultural, mechanical and biological control with  greater  emphasis  on  usage  of  bio-pesticides  and  pesticides  of  plant-origin  like  Neem formulation, etc.  The Government is implementing 'Strengthening and Modernization of Pest Management  Approach  in  India'  through  35  Central  Integrated  Pest  Management  Centres (CIPMCs)  of  Directorate  of  Plant  Protection  Quarantine  and  Storage  established  across  the country, which inter alia, organizes Farmers Field Schools (FFSs) to promote IPM approach.

- (ix) The  Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture  (MIDH)  envisages  production and productivity improvement of horticulture crops like fruits (including apple) and vegetables through various interventions.  Capacity building of farmers and technicians are also provided for adopting improved technologies.  Scheme also envisages creation of infrastructure for PostHarvest Management (PHM) and marketing for better price realization of produce.
- (x) To  develop  Common  Agriculture  Market,  the  Government  has  launched  National Agriculture  Market  (e-NAM)  project  on  14 th April,  2016.      Under  the  e-NAM,  585  regulated markets across the States are to be integrated with e-NAM portal by March, 2018. The e-NAM would facilitate farmers to on-line trade their agricultural produce in any market integrated to the portal  and  to  the  buyer  registered  thereon.  So  far,  455  markets  of  13  States  have  been integrated with e-NAM portal.

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