Lok Sabha Question No. 246 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-04
Subject: Decline in Farmers' Income
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Giridhari Yadav, Rama Devi

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

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 246

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 4 TH  FEBRUARY , 2020

## DECLINE IN FARMERS' INCOME

246.  SHRI GIRIDHARI YADAV: SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI:

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

- (a) whether the income of farmers in Bihar is declining with time in proportion to the rising prices;
- (b) the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) the various efforts made by the Government to increase the income of farmers of Bihar including the details of sponsored schemes implemented in this regard; and
- (d) the extent of success achieved by the Government as a result thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) & (b): The average income of agricultural households in the country is estimated by  National  Statistical  Office  (NSO)  through  the  'Situation  Assessment  Survey  of  Agricultural Households' conducted from time to time. The first such survey was conducted in rural parts of the  country  during  National  Sample  Survey  59 th round  (January  2003-  December  2003). Thereafter, a  repeat  survey  was  conducted during  NSS  70 th round  (January  2013-  December 2013). As per the Survey results, although not strictly comparable, the average monthly income per agricultural household in Bihar is estimated to have increased from Rs. 1810 in 2003 to Rs. 3558 in 2013. State-wise inflation adjusted income estimates are not separately available in the Survey report.

With a view to increase the profitability of farming and to make agriculture more  attractive  to  farmers,  the  Government  has  been  reorienting  the  agriculture  sector  by focusing on an income-centric approach which goes beyond achieving the targeted production. Government has also constituted an Inter-ministerial Committee in April, 2016 to examine the issues relating to 'Doubling of Farmers Income' and recommend a comprehensive strategy to achieve the same. The Committee has submitted its Report to the Government in September, 2018 which is available on the Department's website at http://agricoop.nic.in/doubling-farmers.

The Committee recognises agriculture as a value-led enterprise and has identified seven major sources of growth in farmers'  income,  viz.,  improvement  in  crop  productivity;  improvement  in livestock productivity; resource use efficiency or savings in the cost of production; increase in the  cropping  intensity;  diversification  towards  high  value  crops;  improvement  in  real  prices received by farmers; and shift from farm to non-farm occupations.

(c) & (d): Agriculture  being  a  State  subject,  State  Governments  take  appropriate steps for development of agriculture in their respective States. Government of India, however, supplements  their  efforts  through  implementation  of  various  schemes  and  programmes.  The major Centrally Sponsored Schemes implemented by the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) in Bihar are Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)- Per Drop More Crop, National Food Security Mission (NFSM), NFSM-Oilseeds and Oil Palm, Rainfed Area Development & Climate Change, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), National Project on Management of Soil Health & Fertility, Mission for Integrated Development of  Horticulture  (MIDH),  Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY),  National  Project  on  AgroForestry,  Sub-Mission  on  Agriculture  Extension,  Sub-Mission  on  Seed  and  Planting  Material, Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization, Sub-Mission on Plant Protection and Plant Quarantine, National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture, etc.

Government  of  India  is  also  promoting  integrated  farming  systems  to supplement  agricultural  households'  income  from  traditional  crops.  Besides,  Government  has adopted the principle of fixing Minimum Support Prices (MSP) at a level of 50 per cent over the all-India  weighted  average  cost  of  production  of  crops.  Various  measures  taken  by  the Government  are  aimed  at  improving  net  returns  to  the  farmers  by  enabling  them  to  realize higher yields at lower cost and benefit from better market prices.

Though the extent of increase/decrease in income in Bihar during the last five years is not known, the level of foodgrains production in Bihar has increased from 129.06 lakh tonnes in 2013-14 to 156.93 lakh tonnes in 2018-19 (Fourth Advance Estimates).

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