Lok Sabha Question No. 499 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-19
Subject: Reforms in Agriculture
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: RANJANBEN BHATT

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 499

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19 TH   DECEMBER, 2017

## REFORMS IN AGRICULTURE

## 499. SHRIMATI RANJANBEN BHATT:

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

- (a) whether the Government is considering to reform agriculture as well as strengthen the agriculture trade;
- (b) if so, whether the Government has taken any steps in this regard; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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): The Government has initiated various steps to bring in reforms in the agriculture sector. A few are as follows:

- (i) It has introduced Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) from Kharif 2016 to address the risks associated with agriculture.  PMFBY addresses all the shortcomings in the earlier schemes and is available to the farmers at very low rates of premium. The farmers  will  get  full  insurance  cover  as  there  is  no  capping  of  sum  insured  and consequently  the  claim  amount  is  not  curtailed  or  reduced.  This  scheme  provides insurance cover at all stages of the crop cycle including post-harvest risks in specified instances. It is targeted to increase the area coverage to 30% by 2016-17, 40% by 201718 and 50% by 2018-19.

(ii) In  order  to  create  competitive,  transparent,  efficient  and  barrier  free  agricultural marketing system with accessible and robust market structure in the country, DAC&FW has  formulated  and  released  a  new  holistic  model  Act  namely  'The  --------  State/UT Agricultural  Produce  and  Livestock  Marketing  (Promotion  &  Facilitation)  Act,  2017'  in April this year.  This model APLM Act, 2017, inter-alia, provides for legal framework for development of State level single unified agriculture market, private wholesale market, farmer-consumer market, direct integration of farmers with end buyers.   This model Act also  provides  for  declaration  of  warehouses/  cold  storages  as  market  sub-yards, rationalization of market fee/ commission charges and de-regulation of marketing of fruits & vegetables, etc.

Further,  with  a  view  to  provide  remunerative  prices  to  farmers  in  a  transparent manner, the Government is implementing National Agriculture Market Scheme popularly known as e-NAM scheme w.e.f. 14.04.2016. The scheme aims to create a web based unified agri-marketing portal for inter market and inter-state trading of agri-produce. As per approved scheme, 585 markets across the country are to be integrated by March, 2018. As on 14.12.2017, 470 markets across 14 States/UTs have been integrated with e-NAM portal.

(iii) To increase investments in agri infrastructure, the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY-a scheme of the Govt.), guidelines have been modified making it mandatory to spend 50% of allocation on production and post-production related infrastructure.

(iv) Promotion  of  agri  enterprises  has  been  initiated  by  amending  the  RKVY guidelines

(v) To strengthen agriculture trade, at present there is no quantitative restriction on export  of  principal  agriculture  commodities  (except  mustard  oil,  rapeseed  oil  and sunflower oil).

Further,  3%  to  7%  reward  is  available  under  Merchandized  Export  from  India Scheme  (MEIS)  of  Department  of  Commerce  of  most  of  the  agricultural  produce  to promote their export'.

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