Lok Sabha Question No. 1475 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-20
Subject: Impact of Pandemic on Farming Sector
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Nusrat Jahan Ruhi, Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1475

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 20 TH  SEPTEMBER, 2020

## IMPACT OF PANDEMIC ON FARMING SECTOR

1475.  SHRIMATI NUSRAT JAHAN RUHI: SHRI T.R. BAALU:

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

- (a): whether the Government has any plan to conduct any study to understand the nature of impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on farming sector, if so, the details thereof and if not, the time by which the Government is planning to conduct such study;
- (b): whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  study  on  the  regions  facing  agrarian crisis in the country due to drought, flood and recent COVID-19 pandemic this year and if so, the details thereof;
- (c): whether the Government is planning to provide financial assistance/credit to landless agricultural labourers facing hardships during COVID-19, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d): the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  minimum  damage  to  small  farmers, poor  peasants  and  migrant  labourers  engaged  in  the  informal  sector  due  to  COVID-19 impact?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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

- (a) & (b) No  such  study  has  been  conducted.  During  the  lockdown  situation,  the agriculture  sector  is  functioning  smoothly.  Government  of  India  has  taken  all  necessary measures to ensure smooth sowing operation during pre-monsoon and monsoon period. All the necessary exemptions were allowed for agricultural activities during lockdown period.

As per the Provisional Estimates of National Income 2019-20 released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on 31 st August, 2020 the growth rate of real Gross Value Added (GVA) of Agriculture & Allied sectors is 3.4 % in the First Quarter (April-June), 2020-21.

(c): Assistance  under  MGNREGA  and  PMGKAY  is  being  provided  to  agricultural labourers etc.

(d): Under  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan  Samman  Nidhi  (PM-KISAN)  Scheme  since inception and as on 15/09/2020 about 10.19 crore farmer families have been benefitted and an amount of Rs.94,1305 crore was released. During the period of lock down, an amount of around Rs. 410,86 crores (as on 15-09-2020) has been disbursed to various beneficiaries under the Scheme covering various instalments.

The  Government  had  provided  the  facility  of  Kisan  Credit  Card  to  the  farmers  to invest  in  crops  and  animal  husbandry  and  fisheries.  Now  the  beneficiary  farmers  of  PMKISAN Scheme are also getting the facilities of Kisan Credit Card. There is no mortgage required to avail loan up to Rs1.60 lakh.

Under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), total claims of Rs 5,326.7 crores were paid during lockdown period, PMFBY was made more efficient and farmer friendly and made voluntary for all farmers. Government of lndia will now bear 90% of premium subsidy liability  for  North  Eastern  States  instead  of  50%  earlier.  Further  benefit  of  2%  interest subvention (lS) to Banks and 3% Prompt Repayment Incentive (PRI) to all farmers for all crop loans up to Rs. 3 lakhs given by banks was extended till 31/08/2020.

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