Lok Sabha Question No. 2478 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-03
Subject: Sensitizing  Farmers to  Mixed Farming Practices
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Sujay Radhakrishna Vikhepatil, Sambhajirao Mane Dhairyasheel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2478 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03/12/2019

## SENSITIZING FARMERS TO MIXED FARMING PRACTICES

## 2478.  DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

DR. SUJAY RADHAKRISHNA VIKHE PATIL:

SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the measures taken by the Government to sensitise farmers to shift to mixed farming practices based on scientific inputs; and
- (b) the  schemes  implemented  by  the  Government  to  prevent  losses  in  the  event  of bumper production?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f'k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) coordinates work of 716 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) having mandate of technology assessment and demonstration for its  application  and  capacity  development.  KVKs  impart  training  to  sensitize  farmers  to adopt the scientific practices /methods and spread awareness about various scientific farm intensification  practices  like  intercropping,  relay  cropping,  integrated  farming,  mixed farming, etc. through various extension activities.

Besides, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers' Welfare is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely 'Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms', popularly  known  as ATMA  Scheme,  since  2005  in 684 districts of the country, wherein latest agricultural technologies and good agricultural practices  such  as    mixed  farming  through  different    activities  namely  farmers'  training, demonstrations, exposure visits, Kisan Mela, mobilization of farmers groups and organizing farm schools on the fields of farmers are promoted.

- (b) In order to ensure remunerative prices to farmers for their produce, the Government has  an  umbrella  scheme  'Pradhan  Mantri  Annadata  Aay  Sanrakshan  Abhiyan  (PMAASHA)' which includes Price Support Scheme (PSS), Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS)  and  Private  Procurement  and  Stockiest  Scheme  (PPSS)  and  existing  schemes  of Department of Food & Public Distribution and of Ministry of Textiles.

Besides, there is a Market Intervention Scheme  (MIS) for procurement of agricultural/horticultural commodities, which are perishable in nature and are not covered under PSS.  The objectives of intervention is to protect the growers of these commodities from making distress sale in the event of a bumper crop during the peak arrival period when the prices tend to fall below economic levels and cost of production.

In  addition,  the  Government  is  also  promoting  storage  facilities  in  rural  areas through  the  scheme  Agricultural  Marketing  Infrastructure  (AMI),  which  is  a  sub-scheme under the Integrated Scheme for Agricultural Marketing (ISAM).

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