Lok Sabha Question No. 72 (STARRED), answered on 2023-02-07
Subject: Steps to Promote the Welfare of Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: M. K. Raghavan

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 72

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 7 TH  FEBRUARY, 2023

## STEPS TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF FARMERS

## *72. SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government has data regarding the farmers whose income has been doubled during the last five years and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the Government has data regarding the suicide rates amongst farmers during the said period and if so, the details regarding the same, State-wise; (c) the details of the steps and the measures taken by the Government to promote the interests of coconut, spice and arecanut farmers in the country; (d) whether Spice Research Institute has produced any new varieties of spices in the last few years and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken for its adoption; (e) whether  any  new  varieties  of  drought  and  pest  resistant  coconut  have  been produced in the country; and (f) if so, the details of the steps taken to make these available to farmers?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR) (a) to (f): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (f) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION  NO.  72  FOR  07.02.2023  REGARDING  STEPS  TO  PROMOTE  THE WELFARE OF FARMERS.

(a): The efforts of the Government to double the income of farmers have yielded very positive results.  In this regard Government had constituted an Inter-Ministerial Committee in April, 2016 to examine issues relating to 'Doubling of Farmers Income (DFI)' and recommended strategies to achieve the same.  The Committee submitted its  final  report  to  the  Government  in  September,  2018  containing  the  strategy  for doubling of farmers' income through various policies, reforms & programmes.  As per the  strategy,  Government has adopted and implemented several policies, reforms, developmental  programmes  and  schemes  for  achieving  higher  incomes  for  the farmers directly or indirectly. These include:

## 1.  Unprecedented enhancement in budget allocation

In the year 2013-14 the budget allocation of Ministry of Agriculture (including DARE)  and  Ministry  of  Fisheries,  Animal  Husbandry  &  Dairying  was  only 30223.88 crore. This has increased by more than 4.59 time to Rs. 138920.93 crore in 2022-23. The Finance Minister in the Budget Speech for 2023-24 has announced  the  budgetary  allocation  of  Rs.  125035  crore  for  Ministry  of Agriculture (including DARE).

## 2.  Income support to farmers through PM KISAN

Launch of PM-KISAN in 2019 -an income support scheme providing Rs. 6000 per year in 3 equal installments. More than Rs . 2.24 lakh crore has been released so far to more than 11 crore farmers as of now.

## 3.  Pradhan Mantri Fasal BimaYojana (PMFBY)

Six year - PMFBY was launched in 2016 addressing problems of high premium rates for farmers and reduction in sum insured due to capping. In past 6 Years of implementation - 38 crore farmer applications has been enrolled and over 12.37 crore (Provisional) farmer applicants have received claims. During this period nearly Rs. 25,252 crore were paid by farmers as their share of premium against which claims of over Rs. 1,30,015 crore (Provisional) have been paid to them. Thus for every 100 rupees of premium paid by farmers, they have received about Rs. 514  as claims.

## 4.  Institutional credit for agriculture sector

- i. Increased from Rs. 7.3 lakh crore in 2013-14 with a target to reach Rs. 18.5 lakh crore in 2022-23.  The Finance Minister in the Budget Speech 2023-24 has announced Institutional Credit of Rs. 20 Lakh crore.
- ii. Benefit of concessional institutional credit through KCC at 4% interest per  annum  has  also  now  been  extended  to  Animal  Husbandry  and Fisheries farmers for meeting their short-term working capital needs.
- iii. A special drive has been undertaken since February 2020 to provide concessional  institutional  credit  with  focus  on  covering  all  PM-KISAN beneficiaries  through  Kisan  Credit  Cards  (KCC).  As  on  23.12.2022, 387.87  lakh  new  KCC  applications  have  been  sanctioned  with  a sanctioned credit limit of Rs. 4,49,443 crore as part of the drive.

## 5.  Fixing of Minimum Support Price (MSP) at one-and-a half times the cost of production -

- i. Government has increased the MSP for all mandated Kharif, Rabi and other commercial crops with a return of at least 50 per cent over all India weighted average cost of production from 2018-19.
- ii. MSP for Paddy (common) has increased to Rs. 2040 per quintal in 202223 from Rs. 1310 per quintal in 2013-14.
- iii. MSP for Wheat increased from Rs. 1400 per quintal in 2013-14 to Rs. 2125 per quintal in 2022-23.

## 6.  Promotion of organic farming in the country

- i. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) was initiated in 2015-16 to promote  organic  farming  in  the  country.  32384  clusters  have  been formed and an area of 6.53 lakh hectare has been covered benefitting 16.19  lakh  farmers.  In  addition,  Under  Namami  Gange  Programme 123620  hectare  area  covered  and  under  natural  farming  4.09  lakh hectare area covered. Farmers in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Jharkhand  have  taken-up  organic  farming  on  either  side  of  the  river Ganga  to  control  river  water  pollution  as  well  as  to  fetch  additional income to farmers.
- ii. Government  also  proposes  to  promote  sustainable  natural  farming systems through the scheme Bhartiya Prakratik Krishi Padhati (BPKP). The  proposed  scheme  aims  at  cutting  down  cost  of  cultivation, enhancing  farmer's  income  and  ensuring  resource  conservation  and, safe and healthy soils, environment and food.
- iii. Mission  Organic  Value  Chain  Development  in  North  East  Region (MOVCDNER) has been launched. 379 Farmer Producer Companies have been formed comprising of 189039 farmers and covering 172966 hectare area.

## 7.  Per Drop More Crop

Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme was launched in the year 2015-16 which aims to increase water use efficiency, reducing cost of inputs and increasing productivity at the farm level through Micro Irrigation technologies i.e. drip and sprinkler irrigation  systems. So far, an area of 69.55 lakh hectare has been covered under Micro irrigation through the PDMC scheme from the year 201516.

## 8.  Micro Irrigation Fund

A Micro Irrigation Fund of initial corpus Rs 5000 crore has been created with NABARD.  In the Budget Announcement for 2021-22, the corpus of the fund is to be increased to Rs.10000 crores. Projects worth Rs 4710.96 crore covering 17.09 lakh hectares have been approved.

## 9.  Promotion of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)

- i. A new Central Sector Scheme for Formation & Promotion of new 10,000 FPOs launched by Hon'ble Prime Minister on 29 th February, 2020 with budget outlay of Rs 6865 Crore till 2027-28.
- ii. As  on  31.12.2022,  4280  FPOs  have  been  registered  under  new  FPO scheme.
- iii. Equity Grant of Rs. 53.4 Crore has been released to 1415 FPOs as on 30.11.2022.
- iv. As on 12.12.2022, Credit Guarantee Cover worth Rs. 78 Cr. Issued to 447 FPOs.
10. A National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) has  been launched in 2020 as part of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan to increase productivity of crops through pollination and increase in honey production as an additional source of income. Rs. 500 crore for the period 2020-2021 to 2022-2023 has been allocated for beekeeping sector. 114 projects for assistance of about Rs. 139.23 crores, approved/ sanctioned for funding under NBHM during 2020-21 & 2021-22 till date.

## 11.  Agricultural Mechanization

Agricultural mechanization is an extremely vital to modernize agriculture and reduce  drudgery  of  farming  operations.  During  the  period  from  2014-15 to March,  2022  an  amount  of  Rs.5490.82  crore  have  been  allocated  for agricultural mechanization. 13,88,314 numbers of machines and equipments have  been  provided  to  farmers  on  subsidy  basis.    18,824  custom  hiring centers,  403  high-tech  hubs  and  16,791  farm  machinery  banks  have  been established to make available agricultural machines and equipments to the farmers on rental basis. During the current year i.e. 2022-23, so far an amount of  Rs.  504.43  crores  have  been  released  for  distribution  of  around  65302 machines on subsidy, establishment of 2804 CHCs, 12 Hi-tech hubs and 1260 Village Level Farm Machinery Banks.

## 12.  Providing Soil Health Cards to farmers

Soil Health Card Scheme was introduced in the year 2014-15 to optimize usage of nutrients. The following numbers of cards have been issued to farmers;

- i. Cycle-I (2015 to 2017) - 10.74 crore
- ii. Cycle-II (2017 to 2019)- 12.19 crore
- iii. Model Village Programme (2019-20)- 23.71 lakh

## 13.  Setting up of National Agriculture Market ( e-NAM) extension Platform

- i. 1260 mandis of 22 States and 03 UTs have been integrated to e-NAM platform.
- ii. As on 29.11.2022, more than 1.74 Crore Farmers & 2.37 Lakh traders have been registered on e-NAM portal.
- iii. Total volume of 6.8 Crore MT & 20.05 Crore numbers (bamboo, betel leaves, coconut, lemon & sweet corn) collectively worth approximately Rs. 2.33 lakh crore of trade has been recorded on e-NAM platform as on 29.11.2022.
- iv. As  on  01.12.2022,  203  Agriculture  and  allied  products  Tradable Parameter have been formulated for Assaying on e-NAM platform
14.  Launch of the National Mission for Edible Oils - Oil Palm NMEO has been approved with a total outlay of Rs 11,040 crore. This  will bring an additional area of 6.5 lakh hectare under Oil Palm plantation with 3.28 lakh hectare in the north-eastern states and 3.22 lakh hectare in the rest of India in the next 5 years. The major focus of the Mission is to provide Viability Prices of fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) to the farmers linked with assured procurement by industry with a simpler price fixing formula.

## 15.  Agri Infrastructure Fund (AIF)

Since inception of AIF in the year 2020, the scheme has sanctioned an amount of  Rs.14170  crore  worth  agriculture  infrastructure  in  the  country  for  19191 projects.  With  the  support  of  the  scheme,  various  agriculture  infrastructures were created and some of the infrastructure are at the final stage of completion. These  infrastructures  include  8215  warehouses,  3076  primary  processing units, 2123 custom hiring centres, 992 sorting & grading units, 728 cold store projects,  163  assaying  units  and  around  3632  other  kinds  of  post-harvest management projects and community farming assets.

## 16.  Improvement in farm produce logistics, Introduction of Kisan Rail.

Kisan Rail has been launched by Ministry of Railways to exclusively cater to movement of perishable agrihorti commodities. First Kisan Rail was started in July 2020. Till 31 st  December, 2022, 2359 services on 167 routes have been operated.

## 17.  MIDH - Cluster Development Programme:

The Cluster Development Programme  (CDP)  is designed to leverage geographical specialisation of horticulture clusters and promote integrated and market-led development of pre-production, production, post-harvest, logistics, branding,  and  marketing  activities.  DA&FW  has  identified  55  horticulture clusters, of which 12 have been selected for the pilot phase of the CDP.

## 18. Creation of a Start-up Eco system in agriculture and allied sector

So far, 1102 Startups during FY 2019-20 to 2022-23 have been finally selected by different knowledge partners and agribusiness incubators of DA&FW. A total of Rs. 66.83 crore grants-in-aid has been released for funding to these Startups to the respective Knowledge Partners (KPs) & RKVY RAFTAAR Agri Business Incubator (R-ABIs) as grants-in-aid support by DA&FW.

## 19. Achievement in Export of Agri and Allied Agri- Commodities

The  country  has  witnessed  emphatic  growth  in  export  of  agri  and  allied commodities. As compared to previous year 2020-21, the Agri and allied export has increased from 41.86 billion USD in 2020-21 to 50.24 billion USD in 202122 i.e. an increase of 19.99%.

The efforts of Government at positive implementation of these schemes have yielded remarkable results towards augmenting the income of the farmers. As part of the 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav', Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has released a book, which contains compilation of success stories of 75,000 farmers out of innumerable successful farmers who have increased their income more than two times.

(b): The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs compiles and disseminates information on suicides in its publication titled 'Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India' (ADSI). NCRB has published reports upto 2021 on its website (https://ncrb.gov.in). All the aforesaid measures taken by the Government for increasing  farmers  income  help  them  in  withstanding  financial  stress  and  live  a comfortable life.

(c)  to  (f):    The Coconut  Development  Board (CDB)  is  implementing  following schemes under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India.

- (i). Production and Distribution of Quality Planting Materials
- (ii). Expansion of Area under Coconut
- (iii).  Integrated Farming for productivity improvement
- (iv).  Technology Demonstration/ Quality Testing Lab
- (v). Marketing, Market Intelligent Services, Statistics and Strengthening of Export Promotion Council
- (vi).  Information & Information Technology
- (vii). Technical Service, Project Management including Infrastructure and Administration
- (viii).  Technology Mission on Coconut
- (ix).  Rejuvenation and Replanting
- (x). Coconut Palm Insurance Scheme
- (xi).  Kera Suraksha Insurance Scheme

The Board encourages development of technologies for pests and disease management in coconut under the scheme 'Technology Mission on Coconut'.  Under the  scheme  Board  has  funded  ICAR-Central  Plantation  Crops  Research  Institute, Kasargod, Kerala in developing new coconut varieties resistant to diseases.

Coconut Development  Board  have  established 11  Demonstration  cum  Seed Production  Farms  at  different  agro  climatic  regions  in  the  country  where  quality planting materials are produced and distributed to farming community.

## Some of the major initiatives/achievements under Coconut promotion are as follows :

##  Number of FPOs :

Coconut Development Board has facilitated formation of 69 FPOs (Coconut producer Companies) as on 31.01.2023

##  Value addition in coconut :

It is estimated that about 91 % of the total coconut production in the country is used as raw coconuts- of which domestic consumption is 33 % and 16% for other industrial uses viz., for production of desiccated coconut, virgin coconut oil, coconut milk/ cream, frozen grated/ dry coconut, etc and a meager 2% is used for religious purposes. The rest 49 % are converted to copra of which about 27 % is consumed directly for various edible purposes. Coconut oil is extracted for edible, toiletry and other purposes from the balance 73 % of the copra.

Technology  Mission  on  Coconut  programme  gives  emphasis  on  the development of technologies for the management of insect pest and disease affected  gardens  and  product  diversification  besides  demonstration  and promotion  of  these  technologies  for  adoption.  Under  the  Mission,  research projects and clinical studies are also sponsored through reputed institutions in the area of technology development and also to establish the medicinal and nutraceutical properties/ benefits of coconut products especially coconut oil.

Since inception, technical and financial support was given to establish 537 processing units with processing capacity of more than 3609.261 million nuts per year.

##  Training:

Acute  shortage  of  palm  climbers  to  harvest  and  adopt  plant  protection measures is one of the problems faced by coconut growers. With a view to tackle  this  problem,  the  Board  has  been  conducting  a  skill  development programme from 2011-12 onwards, to train youths in developing special skills and confidence in coconut climbing and plant protection activities for the benefit of coconut farming community.  The skill fetches the youth handsome income for  their  decent  living  and  helps  to  make  available  sufficient  manpower  to society in coconut harvesting and other plant protection activities. So far more than 66,000 persons were trained under this programme.

##  Growth figure/production:

During the period from 2000-01 to 2020-21 (Second estimate), the area under coconut cultivation in the country increased from 1.82 million hectares to 2.109 million hectares. The productivity of coconut at national level as per 2021-22 (second estimate) is 9123 nuts per hectare which showed an increase over that in 2001-02.

##  MSP of Copra

MSP for Copra has been increased from Rs. 5250 per quintal & Rs.5500 per quintal  in  2013  to  Rs.  10860  per  quintal  &  Rs.  11750  per  quintal  in  2023 respectively for Milling Copra and Ball Copra.

Promotion of spices: Government of India has a flagship programme, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), wherein development programmes are being implemented to enhance production and productivity of horticulture crops including spices in the country. The mission programmes are aimed at increasing production,  productivity  and  quality  of  horticulture  crops  produced  and  thus  to increase farmer's income. These programmes are being implemented through State Horticulture Missions (SHM) in various States. Major among them are area expansion (establishment of new garden), rejuvenation /replanting of old and senile gardens, production and distribution of quality planting materials, Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPM/IDM), Integrated  Nutrient  Management  (INM), organic farming, mechanization, Integrated Post-harvest Management, processing for value addition, development of market yards, technology dissemination through frontline demonstration, Human Resource Development etc.

Assistance are also being provided to the farmers to encourage cultivation of horticulture/spice crops under other flagship programmes like Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) etc.

Apart from the above, the Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development (DASD) directly implements production of planting material programme in spices to make available sufficient quantity of nucleus planting materials of highyielding/improved varieties released by SAUs /ICAR Institutes for further multiplication and distribution to farmers. The Directorate also conducts accreditation of  spice  nurseries  to  ensure  healthy  planting  materials.  Technology  dissemination through frontline demonstration, National /State /District Level Seminars/Workshops and Farmers training programmes etc are other programmes implemented by the Directorate  to  promote  spices  cultivation  in  the  Country.  These  programmes  are implemented through the State Agriculture/ Horticulture Universities / ICAR institutes.

Promotion  of  Arecanut :  The  Directorate  of  Arecanut  and  Spices  Development (DASD) looks after the mandate of the development of spices, arecanut, a large group of  aromatic  plants  and  betel  vine grown  in  the  country  at  the  National  Level. Government  of  India  intervenes  in  Arecanut  sector  whenever  there  is  a  crisis  to mitigate the problems faced by the arecanut farmers.

## Varieties of Spices developed during 2017-22

ICAR-Indian  Institute  of  Spices  Research  and  AICRP  on  Spices,  Kozhikode  has developed the following varieties of Spices during 2017-21:-

Black PepperCul. 5308 (Panniyur - 9), and Panniyur 10 (Hybridisation & Selection of crosss  Panniyur 1 x Cul 54 ( OP of cv. Karivally)

Cardamom Appangala-2, IISR Avinash 1999, and Appangala-3

Ginger  Mohini  GCP-49,  Suravi,  Suruchi,  Suprabha,  Solan  Giriganga,  and  IISR Vajra.

Turmeric IISR-Pragati (Acc. 48), Rashmi, Roma, Suroma, UBKV Turmeric-2; (TCP64); Uttar Rupanjana, (IC-0615130), Uttar Rangini (UBKV Turmeric 3) TCP 129, IISR

Prathiba, Dr.YSRHU Lam Swarna, Rajendra Haldi 1, and Chattisgarh Raigarh Haldi 3. Nutmeg - IISR Keralashree, and Konkan Sanyukta, CassiaIISR Cassia (D1)/ Konkan Cassia, Coriander Suguna (LCC - 236), Suruchi (LCC - 234), Ajmer Coriander 2, Ajmer Coriander 3, Rajendra Dhania 3, JD (SI)-1, Chhattisgarh Sri Chandrahansini Dhania2, and Chhattisgarh Raigarh Dhaniya 3, Cumin Gujarat Cumin 5 Fennel - Ajmer Fennel-3, RF 290, and RF 289 (Karan Sonf 1), Fenugreek -  Ajmer Fenugreek 5, HM 425, Narendra Richa, HM 257, HM 273, and Gujarat Methi 3, AjwainAjmer Ajwain 73, and Lam Ajwain 3,

## Nigella Ajmer Nigella 1

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