Lok Sabha Question No. 111 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-02
Subject: Training to Farmers to Increase Crop Yield
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Pratima Bhoumik, Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 111

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02/02/2021

## TRAINING TO FARMERS TO INCREASE CROP YIELD

111. MS. PRATIMA BHOUMIK: SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAM SHRANGARE:

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 has formulated any plan to educate / train farmers across the country about the latest machinery and technology to increase production and to improve quality of their crops;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to help farmers increase their income by selecting best suited and high yielding  varieties  of crops as  well as by adopting latest technologies for cultivation?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

d`f'k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h

(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) to (c): Yes  Sir,  the  Government  has  taken  following  steps  to  educate/train farmers  across  the  country  about  the  latest  machinery  and  technology  to  improve quality  of  their  crop  as  well  as  increase  production  and  income  by  adopting latest technologies for cultivation.

The  Government  has  established  four  Farm  Machinery  Training  &  Testing Institutes located at Budni (MP), Hissar (Haryana), Ananthapur (AP) and Biswanath Chariali (Assam) which are engaged in imparting training to various categories of trainees including farmers, in the field of Farm Mechanization. These institutes have trained 10065 trainees during last one year.

A  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  'Support  to  State  Extension  Programs  for Extension  Reforms' popularly  known  as ATMA  Scheme is  under  implementation since 2005. Presently, Scheme is being implemented in 691 districts of 28 states & 5 UTs in the country.  The  scheme  promotes  decentralized  farmer-friendly  extension system  in  the  country.  Under  the  scheme  Grants-in-Aid  is  released  to  the  State Governments  with  an  objective  to  support  State  Government's  efforts  to  make available  the  latest  agricultural  technologies  and  good  agricultural  practices  in different  thematic  areas  of  agriculture  and  allied  areas  to  farmers.  During  last  one year, 17.32 lakh farmers have been trained under the scheme in different thematic areas.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research has a network of 722 Krishi Vigyan Kendras  (KVKs)  with  mandate  of  technology  assessment,  demonstration  and capacity development of farmers. KVKs imparted training on latest machineries and technologies  to  16.82  lakh  farmers  to  increase  production  and  improve  quality  of their  products  during  last  one  year.  KVKs  also  executed  2.44  lakh  frontline demonstrations  on  various  crops,  livestock  and  other  enterprises  including  farm machineries and organized 10.95 extension activities with the participation of 183.66 lakh farmers during last one year. Besides, 20100 ton seeds of improved varieties of different  field  crops;  348.01  lakh  quality  planting  materials  of  elite  species  of different horticultural crops; and 409.06 lakh fingerlings and other livestock strains were produced and provided to farmers.

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