Lok Sabha Question No. 282 (STARRED), answered on 2019-01-01
Subject: Adoption of Modern Techniques in Agriculture
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, ADVOCATE NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR

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

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 282

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01/01/2019

## ADOPTION OF MODERN TECNIQUES IN AGRICULTURE

## *282.  SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR: ADV. NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR:

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

- (a) whether agriculture is the main source of livelihood for rural people and most of the farmers are still following the age old agriculture methodology and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether Indian agriculture needs a technology-driven revolution, especially given the extant challenges of fragmented landholding, low level of input usage, limited access to irrigation, absence of extension services and inadequate linkage to markets and if so, the step taken by the Government to educate the farmers to adopt modern techniques for better  yield  at  less  expenditure  and  also  to  infuse  multiple  technologies  in  farming  to transform  agriculture  from  being  a  matter  of  livelihood  to  one  of  agri-business  where every farmer becomes an entrepreneur;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any steps to bring latest innovative methods and technologies to the ground level i.e. to  the  farmers,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the Government has a scheme to provide tractor and other  mechanized equipment free of cost or at subsidised cost to the farmers and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether  there  is  any  eligibility  criteria  including  preference  given  to  small  and medium farmers and if so, the details thereof including the support available at district level to facilitate the farmers for successful implementation of the scheme?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) to (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 282 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01/01/2019 REGARDING 'ADOPTION OF MODERN TECHNIQUES IN AGRICULTURE'

(a) Yes, Madam. As per the results of 'Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households' conducted by National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) in 2013, about 63.5 percent  of  the  agricultural  households  in  the  rural  areas  of  the  country  reported cultivation  as  their  principal  source  of  income.  Details  of  the  number  of  farmers  still following age old agriculture methodology are not available in the Survey.

(b) Due to fragmentation, the size of landholding in India has fallen to average size of 1.1 hectare (ha) in 2015-16 from 1.6 ha in 2011-12, according to a rural survey carried out  by  the  National  Bank  for  Agriculture  and  Rural  Development.  Nearly  87%  farm holdings are less than 2 ha falling under small and marginal category. Agriculture sector (i.e.  crop  sector)  in  India  is  technology  driven  since  mid-1960s.  Other  allied  sectors  of agriculture  are  also  making  use  of  technology  in  a  big  way.  Technology  driven agriculture has been input responsive and input use in agriculture increased constantly. Technology-led growth has helped in yield gain by several times. Selective mechanization  of  Indian  farms  is  essential  to  increase  agricultural  productivity,  to achieve  timeliness  in  farm  operations,  to  enhance  input  use  efficiency  and  to  reduce drudgery of agricultural workers. In the field of agricultural mechanization, some of the major challenges are due to variations on account of geography, climate, soil-type, crop and  crop  varieties,  farm  holding  size,  power  availability,  drudgery  involved  in  farm operations  etc.  In  situation  of  limited  resources,  the  importance  of  increased  use  of technology  in  agriculture  assumed  much  significance.  Research  system  is  trying  to develop technology requiring low quantity of input need and their efficient utilization.

The Government is making efforts to use a number of available technologies to improve irrigation reach and efficiency, extension services and market access to farmers. To provide irrigation to every field, micro-irrigation systems are being encouraged in a big  way  under  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sichai  Yojana  (PMKSY).  To  meet  knowledge demand and fill gap, use of information and communication technology are being utilized extensively  to  reach  out  to  farmers  through  m-Kisan  portal  and  for  meeting  market access,  markets  are  being  linked  with  national  grid  under  the  ambit  of  e-NAM.  Also Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) started a project 'Attracting & Retaining Youth in Agriculture' (ARYA) which is being implemented in 25 States through KVKs, one district  from  each  State.  In  each  district,  approximately  4-5  clusters  of  contiguous villages has been identified. Depending upon the type of enterprise, individual or groupbased  activities/enterprises  are  being  encouraged.  In  one  district,  about  100-200  rural youths  were  identified  for  their  skill  development  in  entrepreneurial  activities  and establishment  of  related  micro-enterprise  units  in  the  area  of  Apiary,  Mushroom,  Seed Processing,  Soil  testing,  Poultry,  Dairy,  Goatry,  Carp-hatchery,  Vermi-compost  etc. Under this project, operational costs to support critical inputs like seeds, fertilizers, small equipment are being provided to farm youth. This provides additional opportunities to the unemployed  rural  youth  in  primary  and  secondary  agriculture  and  related  enterprises. Moreover,  ICAR  has  established  a  network  of  25  Agri-business  Incubation  (ABI) Centers. These ABIs act as an effective platform for fostering the growth of sustainable

business  endeavor  to  nurture  the  techno-entrepreneurs  by  providing  a  wide  range  of services such as research support, business planning, office space, access to information and communication technologies, and advice on management, marketing, technical, legal and  financial  issues.  These  measures  have  infused  multiple  technologies  in  farming  to transform  agriculture  from  being  a  matter  of  livelihood  to  one  of  agri-business  where every farmer can become an entrepreneur.

(c) The  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  bring  latest  innovative  methods  and technologies to the ground level i.e. to farmers are as follows:-

-  The ICAR has established 704 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in the country with an  aim  of  technology  assessment  and  demonstration  for  its  application  and capacity development of farmers.
-  For large scale technology dissemination among  farmers 676 Agricultural Technology Management Agencies (ATMAs) have been set-up in 29 States and 3 UTs with funding from Centrally sponsored scheme on Support to State Extension Programme for Extension Reforms.
-  Facilitated establishment  of 1205  Agri-clinic  and  Agri-business  centres  for providing input delivery and farm advisory services to farmers.
-  Established  Kisan  Call  Centre  at  21  locations  for  providing  farm  advisory  to farmers.
-  mKisan portal developed for providing information/services/advisories to farmers by SMSs in their language and preference of agricultural practices.

These  KVKs  and  ATMAs  are  motivating  and  encouraging  farmers  to  adopt improved crop production technologies by organizing various programmes and activities including testing and demonstration of technologies in farmer's field; training of farmers; conducting farm schools and exposure visits of farmers. Apart from imparting regularly training  to  farmers,  the  Agricultural  Universities,  KVKs  and  ATMAs  in  the  State  are organizing  exhibitions  and  various  other  extension  activities  like  farmers  fair,  kisan ghosthis, field days, technology weeks, ex-trainees sammelans, celebration of important days,  diagnostic  visits,  soil  health  camps  and  pre-Rabi  &  pre-Kharif  campaigns  for creating awareness on improved agricultural technologies.

(d) & (e): Mechanization  and  Technology  Division  of  Department  of  Agriculture Cooperation  &  Farmers  Welfare  is  implementing  a  Sub  Mission  on  Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM). The SMAM is providing 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  SMAM  scheme,  Financial  Assistance  for  procurement  of  Agriculture Machinery  and  Equipment  including  tractors  for  SC,  ST,  Small  &  Marginal  Farmers, Women & NE State beneficiaries is provided upto 50% of the cost of machinery limited to ceiling limit and for other beneficiaries it is upto 40% of the cost of machinery limited to ceiling limit. The pattern of assistance provided to farmers for procurement of Tractors under SMAM is given in Annexure.

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Annexure

[Part (d) & (e) of Lok Sabha SQ No.282 for 01/01/2019] Pattern of Assistance Provided to Farmers for Procurement of Tractors Under SMAM

| Type of Agricultural             | For SC, ST, Small &Marginal farmers                               | For SC, ST, Small &Marginal farmers   | For other beneficiary                                             | For other beneficiary   |
|----------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------|
| Machinery                        | Maximum Permissible Subsidy per Machine/Equipment per beneficiary | Pattern of Assistance                 | Maximum Permissible Subsidy per Machine/Equipment per beneficiary | Pattern of Assistance   |
| Tractor 2WD(08-20 PTO HP)        | Rs. 2.00 lakh                                                     | 50%                                   | Rs. 1.60 lakh                                                     | 40%                     |
| Tractor 4WD (08-20 PTO HP)       | Rs. 2.25 lakh                                                     | 50%                                   | Rs. 1.80 lakh                                                     | 40%                     |
| Tractor 2WD (above 20-40 PTO HP) | Rs. 2.50 lakh                                                     | 50%                                   | Rs. 1.60 lakh                                                     | 40%                     |
| Tractor 4WD (above 20-40PTO HP)  | Rs. 3.00 lakh                                                     | 50%                                   | Rs. 2.40 lakh                                                     | 40%                     |
| Tractor 2WD (above 40-70 PTO HP) | Rs. 4.25 lakh                                                     | 50%                                   | Rs. 3.40 lakh                                                     | 40%                     |
| Tractor 4WD (above 40-70 PTO HP) | Rs. 5.00 lakh                                                     | 50%                                   | Rs. 4.00 lakh                                                     | 40%                     |

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