Lok Sabha Question No. 252 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-05
Subject: National Policy on Farmers Suicides
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: SUKENDER REDDY GUTHA

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 252

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 5 TH  FEBRUARY, 2019

## NATIONAL POLICY ON FARMERS SUICIDES

252. SHRI GUTHA SUKENDER REDDY:

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

- (a) whether  the  Supreme  Court  of  India  has  suggested  the  Government  to  bring  out  a national policy over the farmers suicides and to evolve the reasons for their suicides and need for proper protection of their crops from natural calamities and holistic approach for their wellbeing;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a) & (b): In  the  Case  of  Citizen's  Resource  and  Action  Initiative  (CRANTI)  Vs.  State  of Gujarat & Ors., the Supreme Court in its order dated 6 th July, 2017 has stated 'that an issue like this cannot be dealt with overnight, and it is justified for the learned Attorney General to seek time to work out the schemes appropriately. Further, Supreme Court has stated that it will be for the Union Government to determine whether and if so what, course should be adopted for this purpose'.
- (c): Agriculture  being  a  State  subject,  the  State  Governments  undertake  development  of perspective  plans  and  ensures  effective  implementation  of  the  programmes/  schemes.  Also, Government  of  India  supplements  the  efforts  of  the  State  Governments  through  various Schemes/ Programmes. The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers' Welfare has taken a number of measures for welfare of farmers including agricultural labourers.

The Government of India is targeting to double the income of the farmers by the year 2022.  To achieve this, the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers' Welfare has taken  a  number  of  measures.    The  Government  aims  to  reorient  the  agriculture  sector  by focusing on an income-centeredness in addition to pure production centeredness approach.

With a view to provide better insurance coverage to crops for risk mitigation on account of  natural  calamities  and  other  factors,  the  Government  has  launched  a  Crop  Insurance Scheme namely Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) from Khariff 2016 season. This scheme provides insurance cover for all the stages of the crop cycle including post-harvest risks in specified instances .

Giving  a  major  boost  for  the  farmers'  income,  the  Government  has  approved  the increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all Kharif and Rabi Crops for 2018-19 season at a level of at least 150 percent of the cost of production.

In  addition, the  Government is implementing various schemes, viz. Soil Health   Card (SHC)  scheme,  Neem  Coated  Urea,  Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY),  Pradhan Mantri  Krishi  Sinchai  Yojana  (PMKSY),  National  Agriculture  Market  scheme  (e-NAM)  and Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA), Interest subvention schemes and  Kisan  Credit  Card  Schemes.  The  Government  is  also  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) for enhancing production and productivity and development of the sector as a whole.All these steps are implemented to reduce agrarian distress and for the well-being of the farmers.

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