Lok Sabha Question No. 231 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-19
Subject: Study of Areas Facing Agrarian Crisis
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Vishnu Dutt Sharma

O.I.H

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 231

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19 TH  NOVEMBER, 2019

## STUDY OF AREAS FACING AGRARIAN CRISIS

231. SHRI VISHNU DATT SHARMA:

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  on  the  areas  of  the  country  facing agriculture related crisis;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the result of the same; and
- (c) the steps being taken/proposed to be taken to promote the use of modern technology in agriculture  in  order  to  solve  the  agricultural  crisis  and  ensure  continuous  growth  in  the agriculture sector?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) & (b): Taking cognizance of the  problem  of Agrarian  distress and  consequent farmers suicide in the country, Government had undertaken a study 'Farmers Suicide in India: Causes and Policy Prescription' as an all India coordinated study in the work plan 2016-17 through the Institute of Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bengaluru. The study covered 13 states of the country  which  included  Karnataka,  Maharashtra,  Telangana,  Andhra  Pradesh,  Tamil  Nadu, Kerala,  Madhya  Pradesh,  Chhattisgarh,  Punjab,  Haryana,  Gujarat,  Uttar  Pradesh  and  West Bengal.

The study concluded that frequent crop failure due to vagaries of monsoon, absence of assured  water  resources  and  attack  of  pest  and  diseases  are  the  most  important  causes  of farmers'  distress.  The  study  had  made  inter-alia  following  suggestions  to  address  the  above problems:

- (a) Bringing individual farmers under the ambit of crop insurance;
- (b) Judicious use of available water is required;
- (c) Government intervention through MSP covering cost of production plus reasonable profit margin;
- (d) Risk hedging through crop and enterprise diversification should be encouraged to reduce farmers' distress aiming at sustainable income; and
- (e) Regulate informal credit market.

The  Government  has  launched  various  schemes  to  cater  for  the  above  suggested recommendations namely Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojna (PMKSY), Increase in Minimum Support Price (MSPs) for all Kharif & Rabi Crops, Har Med Par Ped, Bee-Keeping, Rashtriya Gokul Mission, Blue Revolution, Interest Subvention Scheme, Kisan Credit Card (KCC), etc.

- (c): The Government has taken various steps to  promote the use of modern technology in agriculture  in  order  to  solve  the  agricultural  crisis  and  ensure  continuous  growth  in  the agriculture sector. Some of the interventions in this direction are :
- (i) Creation  of  a   network  of  681  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs)  by  Indian  Council  of Agricultural Research (ICAR)  to facilitate farmer's access to knowledge and information generated by Agricultural Universities and ICAR Institutes of the country.
- (ii) Initiatives  under  Agriculture  Technology  Management  Agency  (ATMA)  Scheme  like Extension Reforms, Mass Media Support to Agricultural Extension, Kisan Call Centres, Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres, Exhibitions/ Fairs etc.
- (iii) Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM)
- (iv) Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi
- (v) National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) scheme
- (vi) Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme
- (vii)  Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)

********