Lok Sabha Question No. 1411 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-07
Subject: Compensation for Loss due to Lockdown
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Malook Nagar

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1411

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 07 TH  DECEMBER, 2021

## COMPENSATION FOR LOSS DUE TO LOCKDOWN

†1411. SHRI MALOOK NAGAR:

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

- (a) the  steps  taken  so  far  by  the  Government  to  compensate  the  farmers  and  agriculture sector affected due to lockdown;
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  modify  the  scheme  of  doubling  the  income  of farmers  by  2022  and  to  increase  the  budget  allocated  for  said  scheme  in  view  of  current scenario;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी

- (a) 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.  Measures  undertaken  by  the Government to assist farmers are given in the Annexure .

(b)  to  (d) 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 by way of creating corpus funds like Micro Irrigation Fund etc. There have been several  reforms  to  unleash  the  potential  of  agriculture  like  Promotion  of  10,000  FPOs, 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 return on the cost of  production.  Bee-Keeping;  Rashtriya  Gokul  Mission;  Blue  Revolution;  Kisan  Credit Card (KCC) that now offer production loans to even dairy & fishery farmers besides agricultural crops etc.

## Initiatives of Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare (DA&FW)  during the lockdown

##  EXEMPTION TO AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES FROM LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS

- The  Department  ensured  continuity  in  farm  operations.    The  activities  related  to agriculture such as movement of labour, farm machinery etc. were exempted from the lockdown and agriculture related activities carried on as usual.

##  PRADHAN MANTRI KISAN SAMMAN NIDHI (PM-KISAN)

- Release of the financial benefit under PM-KISAN scheme.
- About 11.12 crore farmers benefitted & Rs.1.08 Lakh crore released during lockdown from 23.03.20 to 1.12.2021. Since inception of the scheme till date 11.61 crore farmers benefited and Rs. 1.61 lakh crore released under this scheme.

##  AGRICULTURAL MARKETING

- All wholesale mandis were closed on 25.03.2020.  However, more than 2,067 markets were made functional for the benefits of farmers.
- Direct Marketing was facilitated; FPOs supplied vegetables in nearby cities and towns.
- 'KISAN RATH APP' was launched in April, 2020 to facilitate farmers & traders in searching for transport vehicles for movement of agriculture & horticulture produce.
- 415 e-NAM mandis were made operational during the Covid period to take the total eNAM mandis in the country to 1000.

##  HORTICULTURE

- Indian Railways started Special Parcel Trains since 31.03.2020 which  carried perishable products, agro-products & dairy products across the country.
- India's first Kisan Rail started on 7.08.2020 from Devlali to Danapur & second Kisan Rail from Anantpur to Adarsh Nagar on 09.09.2020.

##  INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

- Authorization to fertilizer wholesalers /retailers extended by 3 months (whose validity expired during Covid time).
- Fertilizer movement to States was monitored to ensure smooth delivery of  fertilizers.

##  SEEDS

- Ensured  availability of 153  lakh  quintals seed  among  the  farmers  against  the requirement of 150 lakh quintals for Kharif 2020.
- Movement of more than 1 crore packets of cotton seed in different parts of India was ensured.
- More than 20,000 quintals of seed was transported from Hyderabad to the Northern & Eastern regions of India.
- Validity of Seed Dealers license that expired during the lockdown extended till Sept, 2020.

##  AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION & TECHNOLOGY

- "Farm Machinery Mobile App' developed.
- More  than  49,029  Custom  Hiring  Centers  were  available  and  more  than  1,45,839 agricultural machinery was registered for rent on this App.
- Module  of  Uberisation of  logistics  aggregators  launched  on  e-NAM  platform.  More than 11.37 lakh trucks & 2.3 lakh transporters were linked to this module.

##  EXTENSION

- Circulated Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) related to crop harvesting & threshing during Kharif 2020 to States.
- Short video film on 'Social Distancing during agricultural activities'was launched.
- All India Agri Transport Call Centre launched in April, 2020 for coordination between States for inter-state movement of perishables.
- 454 KCC seats at 21 locations operated between 6 A.M to 10 P.M. Call flow was about 15,000 to 20,000 per day.

##  AATMANIRBHAR BHARAT ABHIYAN (ABA)

Government of India launched the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (ABA) on  May 12,  2020    to  strengthen  Infrastructure,  Logistics,  Capacity  Building,  Governance  and Administrative Reforms for Agriculture. The components  of the ABA for DA&FW are as follows

## (i) Agriculture Infrastructure Fund of Rs one lakh crore

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.

(ii) The National Bee and Honey Mission (NBHM) - Rs.500 crore from  2020-2021 to 2022-2023 is allocated for the sector.

## (iii) Kisan Credit Card

KCC saturation drive started in February, 2020. 260.59 lakh new KCC applications have been sanctioned so far.

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