Lok Sabha Question No. 1148 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-24
Subject: Assistance to Small and Marginal Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA

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

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1148 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  24 TH  JULY, 2018

## ASSISTANCE TO SMALL AND MARGINAL FARMERS

1148.  SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  received  representations  to  extend  the  scope  of assistance to small and marginal farmers of Bundelkhand in UP; and
- (b) if so, the response of the Union Government thereto and the action taken in this regard?

## 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) & (b): Government  receives  representation  from  various  quarters  on  issues concerning farmers of different parts of the country including Bundelkhand. Department is  implementing  various  schemes  for  the  welfare  of  farmers  including  small  and marginal farmers. The strategy is to improve net returns to the farmers by enabling them to  realise  higher  yields  at  lower  cost  and  benefit  from  better  market  prices.  Some important  schemes  include  Soil  Health  Card  Scheme  (SHC),  Neem  Coated  Urea, Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY),  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchai  Yojana (PMKSY),  National  Agriculture  Market  scheme  (e-NAM),  Pradhan  Mantri  Fasal  Bima Yojana (PMFBY), etc.

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.

Under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for holistic growth  of  the  horticulture  sector  covering  fruits,  vegetables,  root  and  tuber  crops, mushrooms,  spices,  flowers,  aromatic  plants,  coconut,  cashew,  cocoa  and  bamboo, subsidy is provided to the farm size limited to 4 hectare, in majority of its interventions. Also, small and marginal farmers are mobilized to form Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)/ Farmer Interest Group (FIG) for aggregation and economies of scale. FPOs are eligible for financial assistance under MIDH.

Under  National  Food  Security  Mission  (NFSM),  at  least  33%  of  funds  are earmarked for small and marginal farmers.

Under  the  Sub  Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) under the main Mission i.e. National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET), it is proving a suitable platform for converging all activities for inclusive growth of agricultural mechanization  by  providing  a  'single  window'  approach  for  implementation  with  a special focus on small & marginal farmers.

Under the Per Drop More Crop (micro irrigation) at least 50% of the allocation is to be utilized for small & marginal farmers. Further, 10% additional financial assistance is available to small & marginal farmers as compared to other farmers. National Mission for  Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)  guidelines  also  envisage that at least  50%  of  the allocation is to be  utilized for small &  marginal  farmers  i.e. for  Rainfed  Area Development (RAD) and Sub Mission on Agro Forestry (SMAF) Schemes.

Under  the  Soil  Health  Card  Scheme  (SHC)  assistance  is  provided  to  all  State Governments to evaluate soil health in all farm holdings across the country and issue Soil Health Cards to farmers (including small and marginal farmers) regularly in a cycle of two years.

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