Lok Sabha Question No. 211 (STARRED), answered on 2019-12-03
Subject: Training to Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Baidyanath Prasad Mahto

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

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 211

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE   3 RD  DECEMBER, 2019

## TRAINING TO FARMERS

## *211.    SHRI BAIDYANATH PRASAD MAHTO:

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

- (a) whether there is any proposal to impart training to the farmers, distribute agricultural equipment and modernise agricultural system at Panchayat level  to  increase agricultural production and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  there  is  any  proposal  to  set  up  'Kisanshala'  for  lodging  of  farmers  at block/district level and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the details of lodging arrangement available at present for farmers when they visit mandis?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी

(SHRI NARENDRA  SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 211   DUE FOR REPLY ON 3 RD  DECEMBER, 2019.

(a): The Government is implementing the following schemes aimed at imparting training to farmers  at  Panchayat  and  village  level  in  the  agriculture  and  allied  sectors  for  increasing agricultural production :-

A  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  on  'Support  to  State  Extension  Programmes  for Extension  Reforms'  popularly  known  as  Agriculture  Technology  Management  Agency (ATMA) Scheme is under implementation in 684 districts of 28 States & 5 UTs of the country. The scheme promotes decentralized farmer-friendly extension system in the country with an objective  to  support  State  Government's  efforts  to  revitalize  the  extension  system  and making  available  the  latest  agricultural  technologies  and  Good  Agricultural  Practices  in different  thematic areas  of  agriculture and  allied  areas  to farmers. The  extension  activities under  ATMA  include  Farmers  Training,  Demonstrations,  Exposure  Visits,  Kisan  Melas, Mobilization of Farmers Groups and organizing Farm Schools, etc. During the year, 2018-19 and current year 2019-20 (till date), 19.18 lakh and 7.73 lakh farmers respectively availed training benefits under ATMA.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) with its network of 716 Krishi Vigyan Kendras  (KVKs)  has  mandate  of  technology  assessment,  demonstration  and  capacity development of farmers. KVKs are imparting training to farmers for getting higher agricultural production and income. During the year 2018-19, 15.75 lakh farmers were trained by KVKs in various thematic areas.

Four Farm Machinery Training & Testing Institutes (FMTTIs) located at Budni (MP), Hissar  (Haryana),  Ananthapur  (AP)  and  Biswanath  Chariali  (Assam)  are  engaged  in imparting  training  to  various  categories  of  trainees  including  farmers,  in  the  field  of  Farm Mechanization. During the year 2018-19 and 2019-20 (till date), these Institutes have trained 9905 and 5723 candidates respectively.

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National Food Security Mission (NFSM) is being implemented in identified districts of 28  States  and  2  UTs  viz.  Ladakh  and  J&K  of  the  country  to  increase  the  production  and productivity  of  rice,  wheat,  pulses,  coarse  cereals  and  nutri  cereals  (millets)  through  area expansion and productivity enhancement. During the year 2018-19 and 2019-20 (till date), 3,42,188 and 5, 11, 530 numbers of farmers have been trained respectively.

Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture  (MIDH),  a  Centrally  Sponsored Scheme is being  implemented for  holistic  growth  of  the  horticulture  sector  covering  fruits, vegetables,  root  and  tuber  crops,  mushrooms,  spices,  flowers,  aromatic  plants,  coconut, cashew, cocoa and bamboo.  All States and UTs are covered under MIDH. During the 201819  and  2019-20  (till  date),  1,91,086  and  1942  number  of  farmers  have  been  trained respectively.

In addition to the above, training of farmers is an inbuilt component under Sub-Mission on Plan Protection & Plant Quarantine. Farmer Field Schools are conducted for promoting Integrated  Pest  Management  among  farmers.  During  the  year  2018-19  and  2019-20  (till date), 712 & 351 FFSs have been organized under the scheme, respectively.

Sub-Mission  on  Agricultural  Mechanization  was  launched  in  2014-15 with the objectives to increase the reach of Farm Mechanization to Small and Marginal farmers and the regions where availability of farm power is low. During the year 2018-19 and the current year  i.e.  2019-20  (till  date),  3,85,300  &  1,47,503  number  of  agricultural  machineries  have been distributed respectively and 5,189 & 2,300 custom hiring centres have been established respectively.

A  new  Central  Sector  Scheme  is  being  implemented  on  promotion  of  agricultural mechanization for in-situ-management of   Crop    Residue in States of Haryana, Punjab, UP Contd…3/-

-3- and NCT of Delhi (CRM) for the period from 2018-19 to 2019-20. An amount of Rs. 575.18 crore was released in 2018-19 and Rs. 594.14 crore during 2019-20 (till date) to Haryana, Punjab, UP and NCT of Delhi for stopping stubble burning.

For modernizing agriculture system, following initiatives have been taken by Government -

The  National  e-Governance  Plan  in  Agriculture  was  launched  to  use  Information  & Communication  Technology  for  timely  access  to  agriculture  related  information  for  the farmers. Kisan Suvidha mobile application facilitates dissemination of information to farmers on  the  critical  parameters  viz.,  Weather;  Market  Prices;  Plant  Protection;  input  Dealers (Seed, Pesticide, Fertilizer) Farm Machinery; Soil Health Card; Cold Storages & Godowns, Veterinary Centres and Diagnostic Labs. Crop related advisories are sent to the registered farmers  through  SMSs  on  mKishan  Portal  (www.mkisan.gov.in).  The  Indian  Council  of Agriculture Research (ICAR) has compiled more than 100 mobile apps developed by ICAR, State Agricultural Universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras in the areas of crops, horticulture, veterinary, dairy, poultry, fisheries, natural resources management and integrated subjects.

The National Agriculture Market scheme (e-NAM) facilitates farmers with remunerative prices  for  their  produce  through  a  system  of  competitive  and  transparent  electronic  online trading platform. Per Drop More Crop component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana focuses on water use efficiency at farm level through precision/micro irrigation technologies viz.,  Drip  and  Sprinkler  irrigation.  Implementation  of  Agricultural  Marketing  Infrastructure, sub-scheme  of  Integrated  Scheme  of  Agricultural  Marketing,  in  order  to  improve/create scientific storage capacity for storing farm produce, processed farm produce and to reduce post-harvest storage loss. Soil Health Card Scheme assists   State Governments in providing Contd…4/-

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Soil Health Cards to all farmers across the country which provides information to the farmers on  nutrient  status  of  their  soil  along  with  recommendations  on  appropriate  dosage  of nutrients to be applied for improving crop productivity and soil fertility.

Use  of space  technology for various programmes/areas  such  as  Forecasting Agricultural  Output  using  Space,  Agro-meteorology  and  Land-based  Observations  project, Coordinated programme on Horticulture Assessment and Management using geo-informatics project, National Agricultural Drought Assessment and Monitoring System, Rice-fallow Area Mapping and Intensification, geo tagging of infrastructure and assets created under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and Crop Insurance.

The  Government  has  set  up  716  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  and  684  Agricultural Technology Management Agencies at district level for dissemination of technologies among farm  community.  In  addition,  farmers  are  provided  information  through  Focused  Publicity Campaigns,  Kisan  Call  Centres,  Agri-Clinics  and  Agri-Business  Centres  of  entrepreneurs, Agri Fairs and exhibitions, Kisan SMS Portal, etc.

Under Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization, in order to increase the availability of  machines  to  farmers  on  rental  basis,  Custom  Hiring  Centres,  Hi-tech  hubs,  Farm Machinery Banks have been established. A Multi lingual Mobile App 'CHC- Farm Machinery' has  been  launched  which  encompasses  a  rental  process  while  focusing  on  quality, dependability and timely delivery of the services to the farmers.

Development and availability of quality seeds has been increased from 380.30 lakhs Qtls. to 431.01 lakhs Qtls during 2016-17 to 2019-20. More than 1100 new seed varieties, which include climate resilient varieties, have been released and notified during 2014-2019 out of which 35 are Bio-fortified.

(b): There are hostel facilities for farmers in 495 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) of ICAR located at Block/District level.

(c): Under  Agricultural  Marketing  Infrastructure  (AMI),  a  sub-scheme  of  Integrated Scheme  for  Agricultural  Marketing  (ISAM),  Government  provides  assistance  (subsidy)  to State Government agencies @ 25 % of capital cost for common and ancillary facilities in the marker- yards, including farmers lodging facility. The lodging arrangement for farmers as per reports received from State Government can be seen at Annexure-I.

## Annexure-I

## Details of lodging arrangement in Mandis in various States

| S. No.   | Name of State/UT   | No. of Lodging facilities   | Known as                                                                                  |
|----------|--------------------|-----------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.       | Andhra Pradesh     | 113                         | Rythu Rest Bhawan                                                                         |
| 2.       | Arunachal Pradesh  | Nil                         | NA                                                                                        |
| 3.       | Assam              | Nil                         | NA                                                                                        |
| 4.       | Bihar              |                             | No APMC Act                                                                               |
| 5.       | Chhattisgarh       | 28                          | Krishak Vishram Grih                                                                      |
| 6.       | Goa                | Nil                         | NA                                                                                        |
| 7.       | Gujarat            | 75                          | Farmer Rest House                                                                         |
| 8.       | Haryana            | 33                          | Kisan Rest House                                                                          |
| 9.       | Himachal Pradesh   | 10                          | Krishak Vishram Grih                                                                      |
| 10.      | Jharkhand          | 15                          | Krishak Vishram Grih                                                                      |
| 11.      | Karnataka          | 130                         | Raith Bhavan                                                                              |
| 12.      | Kerala             | 04                          | No APMC Act. However out of 6 wholesale markets, there is dormitory facility in 4 markets |
| 13.      | Madhya Pradesh     | 233                         | Krishak Vishram Grih                                                                      |
| 14.      | Maharashtra        | 226                         | Shetkari Nivas                                                                            |
| 15.      | Manipur            |                             | No APMC Act                                                                               |
| 16.      | Meghalaya          | Nil                         | NA                                                                                        |
| 17.      | Mizoram            | Nil                         | NA                                                                                        |
| 18.      | Nagaland           | Nil                         | NA                                                                                        |
| 19.      | Odisha             | Nil                         | NA                                                                                        |
| 20.      | Punjab             | NIL                         | NA                                                                                        |
| 21.      | Rajasthan          | 34+100                      | 34-Kisan Bhawan (District level), 100- Kisan Rest House                                   |
| 22.      | Sikkim             |                             | APMC Act not implemented                                                                  |
| 23.      | Tamil Nadu         | 197                         | Farmers' Rest Room                                                                        |
| 24.      | Telangana          | 108                         | Raythu Rest House                                                                         |
| 25.      | Tripura            | Nil                         | NA                                                                                        |
| 26.      | Uttar Pradesh      | 70                          | Krishak Vishram Grih                                                                      |
| 27.      | Uttarakhand        | 12                          | Krishak Vishram Grih                                                                      |
| 28.      | West Bengal        | -                           | Not available                                                                             |
| B.       | Union Territories  |                             |                                                                                           |
| 29.      | A &N Islands       |                             | No APMC Act                                                                               |
| 30.      | Chandigarh         | -                           | NIL                                                                                       |
| 31.      | DNH                |                             | No APMC Act                                                                               |
| 32.      | Daman & Diu        |                             | No APMC Act                                                                               |
| 33.      | Delhi              | Nil                         | NA                                                                                        |
| 34.      | J & K &Ladakh      | 05                          | -                                                                                         |
| 36.      | Lakshadweep        |                             | No APMC Act                                                                               |
| 37.      | Puducherry         | 02+01                       | 2 Farmers' Hostel and 1 Farmers rest House                                                |