Lok Sabha Question No. 1074 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-24
Subject: Priority to Agriculture Sector
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: MALLIKARJUN  KHARGE

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1074

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  24 TH  JULY, 2018

## PRIORITY TO AGRICULTURE SECTOR

1074.  SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that due priority is not given to the agriculture sector in the country,  so  far  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  response  of  the  Government thereto;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to promote the agriculture sector to bridge the gap between urban and rural areas and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the small scale industries in the agriculture sector is playing an important role  in  boosting  local  income/economy  and  enhancing  the  prospects  of  the  farming sector and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government in the interest of the farmers 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): No  Madam. Agriculture plays a vital role in the country's economy and given the importance  of  agriculture  sector,  the  Government  has  substantially  enhanced  the budget allocation for the agriculture sector.  For the period 2009-2014, the budget for agriculture  was  Rs.1,21,082  crore.    During  2014-2019,  the  allocation  has  been enhanced by 74.5 per cent to Rs.2,11,694.
- (b): Department  of  Agriculture,  Cooperation  &  Farmers  Welfare  is  implementing various  programmes/  schemes  to  improve  the  farm  productivity,  reduce  cost  of cultivation  and  ensure  remunerative  prices  on  farm  produce,  thereby  enhancing farmers'  income and strengthening the rural economy,  which helps to  bridge the gap between urban and rural areas.
- (c): Agro produce based industries, and those engaged in manufacture of inputs of agricultural production, and farm implements as well as providing various services for farming  activities  have  preponderance  of  Micro,  Small  and  Medium  Enterprises (MSMEs) and therefore, have a major role in boosting the farming sector, and improving

(d): The focus of the Government is on farmers' welfare by making farming viable. Farm viability is possible, when cost of cultivation is reduced, yields per unit of farm are increased and farmers get remunerative prices on their produce.  The Department has been  implementing  various  schemes  to  meet  this  objective,  viz.  Soil  Health  Card Scheme (SHC), Neem Coated Urea, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), The Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), National Agriculture Market scheme (e-NAM), Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).

In addition,  the   Government   provides  total  interest  subvention  up to 5% ( inclusive of 3 % prompt repayment incentive) on short-term crop loans up to Rs.3.00 lakh.  Thus, loan is available to farmers at a reduced rate of 4% per annum on prompt repayment.    Further,  the  Government  is  implementing  several  Centrally  Sponsored Schemes viz. National Food Security Mission (NFSM); Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH); National Mission on Oilseeds & Oilpalm (NMOOP); National Mission for  Sustainable  Agriculture  (NMSA); National  Mission on Agricultural Extension & Technology (NMAET) and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).

Further, in the budget for 2018-19 the Government had announced that MSP for all unannounced Kharif crops will be 1.5 times   the cost of production.  Giving a major boost for the farmers income, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in its meeting  held  on  04.07.2018      has  approved  the  increase  in  the  MSPs  for  all  Kharif crops for 2018-19 season at a level of at least 150 percent of the cost of production.

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