Lok Sabha Question No. 381 (STARRED), answered on 2023-03-28
Subject: Alternatives to Tobacco Crop
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Kirit Premjibhai Solanki

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 381

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 28 TH  MARCH, 2023

## ALTERNATIVES TO TOBACCO CROP

*381.  DR. (PROF.) KIRIT PREMJIBHAI SOLANKI

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

- (a)  whether  there  is  any  scheme  for  development  and  promotion  of  tobacco  crop alternatives for tobacco farmers currently;
- (b) if so, the details  thereof;
- (c) whether  any  budget  has  been  allocated  to  the  States  for  the  above  scheme during the last five years and if so, the details thereof along with the States to be covered thereunder;
- (d) whether any kind of institutional, monetary and regulatory support is being given by various Ministries of the Central and State Governments for the tobacco growers for alternate cropping and / or for alternate livelihood; 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): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 381 FOR 28 TH  MARCH, 2023 REGARDING 'ALTERNATIVES TO TOBACCO CROP'.

- (a) & (b): The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare  (DA&FW)  is implementing  Crop  Diversification  Programme  (CDP)  under  Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas Yojana - Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sectors Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAAR)  in  10  tobacco  growing  states  namely  Andhra  Pradesh,  Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal to encourage farmers to shift to alternative crops/cropping system. Under CDP, tobacco growing states have been given the flexibility to take suitable activities / interventions to shift from tobacco crops to alternative agricultural / horticultural crops, as  per  the  cost  norms  approved  under  any  centrally  sponsored  schemes/state schemes.
- (c): The  budgetary  allocation  for  the  tobacco  growing  states  namely  Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal under CDP during the last five years is given as under:
- (d) & (e): In addition to CDP, the Government of India is also providing flexibility to the states for state specific needs/priorities under RKVY-RAFTAAR and the States can promote crop diversification under RKVY-RAFTAAR with the approval of State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) headed by Chief Secretary of the respective states. The DA&FW also implements various crop development programmes such as the  National  Food  Security  Mission  on  Rice,  Wheat,  Pulses,  Shree  Anna  (millets), Coarse Cereals, Oilseeds and Commercial Crops (Cotton, Jute & Sugarcane), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) etc. for promotion of agricultural / horticultural crops.
- ICAR- Central Tobacco Research Institute, Rajahmundry has recommended alternative cropping systems to the states for replacing tobacco.

| Years                                                    |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |   2020-21 |   2021-22 |   2022-23 |
|----------------------------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Allocation to the States as Central share (Rs. in lakhs) |       667 |       667 |      1000 |      1000 |      1000 |

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