Lok Sabha Question No. 571 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-25
Subject: Increasing Production of Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.571

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  25 TH  JUNE, 2019

## INCREASING PRODUCTION OF FARMERS

571.   SHRIMATI RANJAN BEN DHANANJAY BHATT:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  increase  agriculture  production  in  the country;
- (b) if so, whether the Government proposes to take any step in this regard;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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

(a) to (c): Agriculture being a State subject, the State Governments undertake development of perspective plans and ensure effective implementation of the programmes/ schemes with respect to agriculture production. Also, Government of India supplements the efforts of the State Governments through various Schemes/ Programmes. The Government has launched various schemes which focuses on achieving higher productivity, reducing cost of  cultivation  and  remunerative  price  on  the  produce.  As  a  result  of  these  initiatives,  the country has been witnessing record food grain production. As per Third Advance Estimates for  2018-19, total food grain production in the country is estimated at 283.37 million tonnes which is higher by 17.62 million tonnes than the average production of food grain of previous five years' (2013-14 to 2017-18). Also, the Horticulture production in the country reached a record output of 306.8 million tonnes (3 rd Advance Estimate), due to increase in area under horticulture crops from 23.24 million ha to 25.66 million ha and productivity from 11.07 MT/ha to 11.96 MT/ha.

The Government has taken various steps by making inter-alia various interventions viz. developing/provisioning  of  improved  crop  seeds;  livestock  and  fish  culture;  water  use efficiency;  pest  management;  improved  farm  practices;  improved  nutrient  management; agricultural insurance; credit support; markets; access to information and livelihood diversification for a better agriculture production and welfare of the farmers.

In addition, the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)  includes programmatic  interventions  like  Soil  Health  Card(SHC),  Paramparagat  Krishi  VikasYojana (PKVY),  Mission  Organic  Value  Chain  Development  for  North  Eastern  Region  (MOVCDNER), Rainfed Area Development (RAD), National Bamboo Mission (NBM) and Sub-mission on Agro Forestry (SMAF) and Pradhan Minister Krishi SinchaiYojana (PMKSY) with a vision to  better  agriculture  production.  Assistance  is  also  provided  under  National  Food  Security Mission (NFSM) for stress tolerant/ climate resilient varieties of seeds /food grains.

(d): Does not arise in view of above.

## Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 571due for 25.06.2019 Statement in respect  of Part (a) to (c) of the Question  regarding 'Increasing Production of Farmers'

The  strategy  of  the  Government  is  to  focus  on  farmers'  welfare  by  making  farming viable. Most of the schemes of Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare focus on directly benefitting farmers through various interventions and schemes such as:-

- (i)      Encouraging  contract  farming  through  the  State  Governments  by  promulgating  of Model Contract Farming Act.
- (ii) Implementation of flagship scheme of distribution of Soil Health Cards to farmers so that the use of fertilizers can be optimized.
- (iii)     'Per drop more crop' initiative under which drip/sprinkler irrigation is being encouraged for optimal utilization of water.
- (iv) 'Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY)'  under  which  organic  farming  is  being promoted.
- (v) With  a  view  to  provide  better  insurance  coverage  to  crops  for  risk  mitigation, Government  has  launched  a  crop  insurance  scheme  namely  Pradhan Mantri  Fasal Bima  Yojana  (PMFBY) from  Kharif  2016  season.  This  scheme  provides  insurance cover for all stages of the crop cycle including post-harvest risks in specified instances.
- (vi) Giving  a  major  boost  for  the  farmers  income,  the  Government  has  approved  the increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSPs) for all Kharif & Rabi crops for 2018-19 season at a level of at least 150 percent of the cost of production.
- (vii) Giving a major boost to the pro-farmer initiatives, the Government has approved a new Umbrella Scheme 'Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PMAASHA)'.  The  Scheme  is  aimed at  ensuring  remunerative  prices  to  the  farmers  for their produce as announced in the Union Budget for 2018. This is an unprecedented step taken by Govt. of India to protect the farmers' income which is expected to go a long way towards the welfare of farmers.
- (viii) Bee  keeping  has  been  promoted  under  Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of Horticulture  (MIDH)  to  increase  the  productivity  of  crops  through  pollination  and increase the honey production as an additional source of income of farmers.
- (ix) The Government provides total interest subvention up to 5% (inclusive of 3% prompt repayment  incentive)  on  short-term  crop  loans  up  to  Rs.  3.00  lakh.  Thus,  loan  is available to farmers at a reduced rate of 4% per annum on prompt repayment.
- (x) The Government has approved for giving the facility of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to the farmers  practicing  animal  husbandry  and  fisheries  related      activities  and  has  also decided to extend the Interest Subvention Facilities to such categories of farmers.

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