Lok Sabha Question No. 2324 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-09
Subject: Rehabilitation of Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Abdul Khaleque

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2324 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9 TH  MARCH, 2021

## REHABILITATION OF FARMERS

## 2324.  SHRI ABDUL KHALEQUE

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

- a) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  regarding  welfare  and  rehabilitation  of farmers who have suffered due to both COVID-19 and flood;
- b) if so, the details thereof;
- c) if not, the reasons therefor;
- d) whether the Government will consider coming out with some plan to extend much needed help to the farmers particularly in the State of Assam; and
- e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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

(a) to (e): During  the  lockdown,  the  agriculture  sector  had  functioned  smoothly. Government of India has taken all necessary measures to ensure smooth operation of agriculture  related  activities.  Farming  and  allied  activities  were  exempted  from  the lockdown. As per the first Advance Estimate of National Income, agriculture and allied Sectors registered a growth of 3.4% during 2020-21.

Further,  the  Government  had  launched  many  schemes/programmes  to  assist farmers of the country including the State of Assam, during the lockdown period such as :-

- i. From 24.03.2020 to 02.02.2021, funds amounting to Rs. 62,301.22 crore have been  transferred  to  the  Bank  Accounts  of  PM-KISAN  beneficiaries,  out  of which Rs 656.27 was disbursed in Assam.
- ii. Kisan  Rails  were  operated  for  the  first  time  from  July,  2020  to  facilitate movement of perishable Agri-Horticulture commodities.
- iii. Central Sector Scheme of financing facility under Agri Infrastructure Fund. This scheme is operational from the year 2020--21 to 2029-30.The aim is creation of infrastructure at the farm gate.
- iv. The National Bee and Honey Mission (NBHM) - Rs.500 crore from 2020-2021 to 2022-2023 is allocated for the sector.
- v. Concessional credit boost to 2.5 crore farmers through Kisan Credit Card. So far  180.84  lakh  Kisan  Credit  Cards  have  been  issued  as  part  of  the  KCC saturation drive since February 2020.
- vi. Steps  were  also  taken  to  ensure  adequate  availability  of  fertilizer  during  the lockdown. There has been close monitoring of movement and availability of all the fertilizers through real time coordination with State Governments, fertilizer companies and various Ministries including Railways etc. Also, availability  of fertilizers in States was ensured through on-line web based monitoring system called Integrated Fertilizer Monitoring System  (iFMS). From  April'20 to January'21 nearly 2214 additional Railway rakes were deployed (as compared to  the  corresponding  period  of  last  year)  to  timely  transport  the  fertilizers  to various corners of the country. Timely import of urea was also ensured so as to ensure sufficient availability across the country.
- vii. Measures  were  also  taken  to  ensure  adequate  availability  of  seeds  during lockdown.  More  than  25  thousand  quintals  of  breeder  seed  was  allocated during Kharif-2020 to ensure smooth seed production operations. Movement of more than 1 crore  packets  of  cotton  seed  and  20,000  quintals  of  seed  was done. The validity of Seed Dealers license and import permission granted was extended till September, 2020.

For Assam, an amount of Rs. 14.87 crores was sanctioned and Rs. 7.74 crores revalidated for distribution of certified seed to farmers at subsidized rates.

Moreover, an additional assistance of Rs 437.15 crore from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) was granted for Assam for the flood/landslides of 2020

******