Lok Sabha Question No. 1509 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-12
Subject: Financial Condition of Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: L.R. Shivaramegowda, ANJU BALA, Tejpratap Singh,Yadav

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1509

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12 TH   FEBRUARY, 2019

## FINANCIAL  CONDITION  OF  FARMERS

1509.    SHRI L.R. SHIVARAME GOWDA: SHRIMATI ANJU  BALA: SHRI TEJ PRATAP SINGH YADAV:

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

- (a) whether the financial condition of farmers is poor in comparison to that of entrepreneurs/middlemen who do business in foodgrains in the country;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons  therefor  along  with  the  steps  taken  by    the Government  to  ameliorate  the condition of farmers;
- (c) whether  the  Government  provides  financial  assistance/relief  to  the  families  of  farmers who commit suicide;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government proposes to  initiate  any  process  to  segregate  the farmers into  poor,  small,  marginal  and medium on the basis of land holdings;
- (f) if so, the details thereof; and
- (g) the steps taken by the Government for development of agriculture sector?

## 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): As  per  the  'Situation  Assessment  Survey  (SAS)  of  Agricultural  Households' conducted  by  National  Sample  Survey  Office  (NSSO)  during  its  70 th round  (January  2013December 2013), the average monthly income per agricultural household is estimated to be Rs. 6426/-, including both farm and non-farm income. However, comparable income estimates for entrepreneurs/middlemen who do business in foodgrains are not available.

Agriculture being a State subject, the State Governments are primarily responsible for the growth and development of agriculture sector. Government of India, however, supplements their efforts through budgetary support and implementation of various Schemes/ Programmes. These Contd…2/-

include, inter alia ,  Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana  (PKVY),  Soil  Health  Card,  Neem  Coated  Urea,  National  Mission  for  Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), National Agriculture Market scheme (e-NAM), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), National Bamboo Mission, Blue Revolution, Rashtriya Gokul Mission, etc.

(c) & (d): State Governments provide relief to families of farmers who commit suicide. As per the available information, some of the states provide relief to the families of farmers who committed  suicide  through  measures  like  provision  of  ex-gratia  relief  to  the  heirs  of  the deceased farmer, one time settlement to wipe  off loans/liabilities  towards rehabilitation  of the family members, relief provided to the children of the deceased through free education, etc.

(e) & (f): The Agriculture Census conducted quinquennially by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers  Welfare  uses  the  following  criteria  for  classifying  different  size-group  of  operational holdings.

| Size Groups   | Criteria            |
|---------------|---------------------|
| Marginal      | Below 1.00 hectare  |
| Small         | 1.00-2.00 hectare   |
| Semi-Medium   | 2.00-4.00 hectare   |
| Medium        | 4.00-10.00 hectare  |
| Large         | Above 10.00 hectare |

Moreover, the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) under its 'Situation Assessment of Agricultural Households' provides estimates of agricultural households for different size-class of land holdings.

(g): Government  is  focusing  on  reorienting  the  agriculture  sector  by  shifting  towards  an income-centric  approach  which  goes  beyond  merely  achieving  targeted  production.  An  InterMinisterial Committee has been constituted to examine issues relating to doubling of farmers' income and recommend a strategy to achieve the same by 2022. The Committee, alongside a comprehensive strategy, has suggested various interventions for consideration of the Government which are being implemented

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