Lok Sabha Question No. 1234 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-18
Subject: National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: PREM DAS RAI

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1234

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18 TH  DECEMBER, 2018

## NATIONAL MISSION FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

1234.  SHRI PREM DAS RAI:

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

- (a) the  extent  to  which  the  requirement  of  National  Mission  on  Sustainable  Agriculture  to enhance  water  use  efficiency  through  application  of  technologies  coupled  with  demand  and supply side management solutions has been satisfied by the 'Per drop more crop' component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana; and
- (b) whether the Government has taken steps to promote integrated farming system along with emphasis on integrated nutrient management practices, if so, the details thereof, if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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): National  Mission  for  Sustainable  Agriculture  (NMSA)  has  been  made  operational  from the year 2014-15 which aims at making agriculture more productive, sustainable, remunerative and climate resilient by promoting location specific  integrated /composite farming systems; soil and moisture conservation measures; comprehensive soil health management; e cient water management practices and mainstreaming rainfed technologies.

On Farm Water Management (OFWM) was implemented as one of the component of NMSA  during  2014-15  with  the  objective  of  enhancing  water  use  efficiency  by  promoting technological  interventions  like  drip  &  sprinkler  technologies,  efficient  water  application  & distribution  system,  secondary  storage  etc.  Thereafter,  these  activities  have  been  subsumed under the 'Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)' component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) during 2015-16.

The  PMKSY-PDMC  mainly  focuses  on  water  use  efficiency  at  farm  level  through precision/ Micro Irrigation (Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation). Besides, promoting precision irrigation and  better  on  farm  water  management  practices  to  optimize  the  use  of  available  water resources,  the  component  also  supports  micro  level  water  storage  or  water  conservation /management activities to supplement source creation. Since, 2015-16 an area of 30.69 lakh ha has been brought under micro irrigation so far.

(b): Rainfed Area Development Programme is implemented as a component under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture since 2014-15 in the country. The programme focuses on Integrated  Farming  System  for  enhancing  productivity  and  minimizing  risks  associated  with climatic  variability.  Under  this  system,  crops  is  integrated  with  activities  like  horticulture, livestock,  fishery,  vermi-organic  compost,  green  manuaring,  apiculture etc. to  enable  farmers maximising farm returns for sustained livelihood and mitigate the impacts of drought, flood or other extreme weather events with the income opportunity from allied activities. Since inception of the scheme, an area of 3.42 lakh ha has been brought under Integrated Farming System.

Soil  Health  Management  (SHM) is  one  of  the  components  under  National  Mission  for Sustainable  Agriculture  (NMSA).  SHM  aims  at  promoting  Integrated  Nutrient  Management (INM) through judicious use of chemical fertilizers including secondary and micro nutrients in conjunction with organic manures and bio fertilizers for improving soil health and its productivity, strengthening of soil and fertilizer testing facilities to improve soil test based recommendations to farmers for improving soil fertility.

The  activities  include  trainings  and  demonstrations  on  balanced  use  of  fertilizers. Besides,  'Soil  Health  Card'  Scheme  is  under  implementation  in  the  country  since,  February, 2015 to  provide  Soil  Health  Card  to  all  farmers  in  the  country.  Soil  Health  Card  will  provide information to farmers on soil nutrients status of their soil and recommendation on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health and its fertility.

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