Lok Sabha Question No. 366 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-04
Subject: Low Agricultural Income
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Pankaj Chowdhary

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

## LOK  SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 366 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 4 TH  FEBRUARY, 2020

## LOW AGRICULTURAL INCOME

366.   SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY:

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

(a) whether  the  Government  has  found  out  the  reasons  for  the  failure  to  achieve substantial  increase  in  the  income  of  people  engaged  in  agriculture  sector  and  if  so,  the details thereof;

(b) whether the low income of people engaged in agriculture sector is also affecting the growth rate and if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;

(c) whether the Government is likely to take any effective steps to increase the income of the people engaged in agriculture sector; and

(d) if so, the details 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 (NSS) 59 th round (January 2003- December 2003).  Thereafter, a  repeat  survey  was  conducted during  NSS  70 th round  (January  2013December 2013).  As per the Survey  results,  which  although  not  strictly  comparable,  the average monthly  income  per  agricultural  household  from  various  sources  is  estimated  to have increased from Rs. 2115 in 2003 to Rs. 6426 in 2013.

The  Survey  report  has  not  mentioned  the  reasons  for  low  level  of  income  of agricultural  households  in  the  country.  However,  predominance  of  small  and  marginal operational holdings, low irrigation coverage, poor soil health, inadequate marketing facilities and post-harvest supporting services, and lack of focus on the allied sectors of agriculture, etc., may be attributed as main reasons for low level of growth of income of people engaged in the agriculture sector.

(c) & (d): Growth rate of Gross Value Added (GVA) in agriculture and allied sector is directly and indirectly affected by various factors, including changes in income of agricultural households.  With  a  view  to  make  agriculture  more  remunerative,  various  Schemes  are implemented by the Government, viz., Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY); Soil  Health  Card  (SHC)  Scheme;  National  Agriculture  Market  Scheme  (e-NAM);  Pradhan Mantri  Fasal  Bima  Yojana  (PMFBY);  National  Food  Security  Mission  (NFSM);  Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA); Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH); and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). Besides, Government has adopted the principle of fixing Minimum Support Price (MSP) at a level of 50 per cent over the all-India weighted average cost of production of crops.

Moreover, with a view to provide income support to all farmers' families across the country,  the  Central  Government  has  started  a  new  Central  Sector  Scheme,  namely,  the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN). The Scheme aims to provide a payment of  Rs.  6000/-  per  year,  in  three  installments  of  Rs.  2000/-  each  to  the  farmer  families, subject to certain exclusions relating to higher income groups.

Government has also focused on the aggregation of small and marginal farmers into groups for overcoming market imperfections and to realize better prices for their produce.

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