Lok Sabha Question No. 2054 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-03
Subject: Study on Agrarian Crisis
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Chinta Anuradha

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2054

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  3 RD  MARCH, 2020

## STUDY ON AGRARIAN CRISIS

2054.  SHRIMATI CHINTA ANURADHA:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  study  on  the  regions  facing  agrarian crisis in the country;
- (b) if so, the details and the outcome thereof; and
- (c) the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  encourage  the  use  of  modern agricultural techniques to sustain growth of agriculture to solve the problem of agrarian crisis in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी ( SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) & (b): Taking cognizance of the problem of Agrarian distress and consequent farmers suicide  in  the  country,  Government  had  undertaken  a  study  'Farmers  Suicide  in  India: Causes and Policy Prescription' as an all India coordinated study in the work plan 2016-17 through the Institute of Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bengaluru. The study covered 13  states  of  the  country  which  included  Karnataka,  Maharashtra,  Telangana,  Andhra Pradesh,  Tamil  Nadu,  Kerala,  Madhya  Pradesh,  Chhattisgarh,  Punjab,  Haryana,  Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

The study concluded that frequent crop failure due to vagaries of monsoon, absence of assured water resources and attack of pest and diseases are the most important causes of farmers' distress. The study had made inter-alia following suggestions to address the above problems:

- (a) Bringing individual farmers under the ambit of crop insurance;
- (b) Judicious use of available water is required;
- (c) Government  intervention through MSP  covering  cost of production plus reasonable profit margin;
- (d) Risk hedging through crop and enterprise diversification should be encouraged to reduce farmers' distress aiming at sustainable income; and
- (e) Regulate informal credit market.

(c): The Government has taken various steps to promote the use of modern technology in agriculture  sustainable  growth  in  the  agriculture  sector.  Some  of  the  interventions  in  this direction are :

- (i)    Creation of a network of 716 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) for dissemination of knowledge and information about modern technology etc.
- (ii)    Initiatives under Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Scheme like Extension Reforms, Mass Media Support to Agricultural Extension, Kisan Call Centres, Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres, Exhibitions/ Fairs etc.
- (iii)    Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM)
- (iv)    Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi
- (v)   National Agriculture e-Market platform (e-NAM) has been established
- (vi)    Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme
- (vii)  Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)

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