Lok Sabha Question No. 329 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-19
Subject: Improving Farmers Income
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Sarmistha Sethi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 329

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 th  July, 2022

## IMPROVING FARMERS INCOME

329.   SHRIMATI SARMISTHA SETHI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of research studies which recommend that drones and artificial intelligence should be used to improve productivity in agriculture sector;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the action plan thereon; and

(c) the details of the steps taken by the Government to improve farmers' income during the last three years?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a)  & (b): Yes sir, use of Drones for the Crop-protection in India is new and the country is gaining experience. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) initiated a network program  during  September,  2021  where  in  Research  on  use  of  Drones  and  Artificial Intelligence  (AI)  for  timely  monitoring  of  crop  growth,  health  and  managing  it  with enhanced  input  use  efficiency  were  taken  up.  Drone  and  AI  technology  are  used  to monitor near real time crop health. Drone is also used for variable rate technology for pesticide and liquid fertilizer applications, mapping of water spread area, water sampling, mapping macrophyte infestation and aquaculture management practices, etc. Drone and AI  technology  are  also  used  for  precision  livestock  farming,  particularly  its  health monitoring.

(c): For enhancing farmers' income, the emphasis is on adopting a multi-dimensional strategy,  which  includes  increase  in  production  through  creation  of  resources  for improving  irrigation;  effective  use  of  inputs;  reduction  of  post-harvest  losses;  value addition;  reforms  in  agriculture  marketing;  minimizing  risk  and  providing  security  and assistance,  and  promotion  of  allied  activities.  The  Government  has  adopted  several developmental programmes, schemes, reforms and policies that focus on higher incomes for the farmers.  All these policies & programmes are being supported by higher budgetary allocations, non-budgetary financial resources such as creating Corpus Funds like Micro

Irrigation  Fund  etc.  There  have  been  several  reforms  to  unleash  the  potential,  e.g. Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs along with necessary financial support under Atma Nirbhar Package (Agriculture).    Under  Atma  Nirbhar  Bharat  special  attention  is being paid for creation of infrastructure for which 'Agri Infrastructure Fund (AIF) has been created with a size of Rs.100,000 crore. Other special initiatives include Supplementary Income transfers under PM-KISAN; Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY); Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY); Increase in Minimum Support Price (MSPs) for all Kharif & Rabi Crops ensuring a minimum of 50 percent of profit margin on the cost of production, Bee-Keeping; Rashtriya Gokul Mission; Blue Revolution; Interest Subvention Scheme; Kisan Credit Card (KCC) that now offers production loan to even dairy & fishery farmers besides agricultural crops etc.  The adoption of Drone technologies in agriculture has a potential to revolutionize the Indian agriculture.  In order to make Drone technology affordable to the farmers and other stakeholders of this sector, financial assistance @ 100%  cost of drone together with the contingent expenditure is extended to ICAR/SAU/State  Governments/State  Government  Institutions  under  Sub-Mission  on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) for its demonstration on the farmer's field.  Apart from this,  farmers  are  getting  timely  information  and  advisory  services  through  online  and telecom mediums such as Kisan Call Centre and Kisan Suvidha App so that farmers can make decision for increasing crop productivity. During last three years (2019-2021) a total of  946  field  crop  varieties  have  been  released  comprising  of 379  of  cereals,  146  of Oilseeds, 168 of Pulses, 55 of Forage Crops, 158 of Fibre Crops, 26 of Sugarcane and 14 of other crops (potential/minor crops). In addition, 288 varieties of Horticultural crops were  also  released.  These  improved  varieties  are  helping  farmers  to  increase  their income.

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