Lok Sabha Question No. 975 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-08
Subject: Modernization of Agro-Technologies
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Chandeshwar Prasad, Shankar Lalwani, Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav, Arvind Ganpat Sawant

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 975

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 08 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022

## MODERNIZATION OF AGRO-TECHNOLOGIES

975 . SHRI CHANDESHWAR PRASAD: SHRI SHANKAR LALWANI: SHRI SANJAY JADHAV: SHRI ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण

- मंी be pleased to state:
- (a) whether the Government has formulated any Scheme to disseminate information  with  regard  to  new  technologies  developed  in  agricultural  sector  to  the farmers and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the Government has formulated any Scheme to encourage farmers for organic farming;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the contemplating on modernization of new technology for improvement in agricultural sector and to double the income of farmers during the last three years especially during Covid-19 period, particularly in Bihar;
- (e) if  so,  the  details  of  targets  fixed/achieved  in  this  regard  so  far  alongwith  the time by which such technology is likely to be developed; and
- (f) whether  the  Government  has  any  Plan/Scheme  to  support  the  farming Community and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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

- (a) :The Government has various plans/schemes/activities to disseminate information with  regard  to  new  technologies  developed  in  agricultural  sector  to  the  farmers such as:
- i. Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) is being implemented w.e.f April,2014.The scheme  aims at 'reaching the unreached'  by  bringing  to  the   small  and  marginal  farmers  in  the  core and giving  the  benefits  of  farm  mechanization,  by  Promoting  'Custom Hiring Centers' , creating hubs for hi-tech & high value farm equipments, distribution of various agricultural  equipments,  creating  awareness among  stakeholders through demonstration and capacity building activities, and ensuring performancetesting and certification at designated testing centers located all over the country.
- ii. A Centrally Sponsored Scheme 'Support to State Extension Programs for  Extension  Reforms'  popularly  known  as  ATMA  Scheme  is  under implementation  since  2005  for  promoting  decentralized  and  farmerfriendly  extension  system  in  the  country.  Presently,  691  districts  of  28 states  &  5  UTs  are  covered  under  the  scheme.  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  through different  extension  activities  viz;  Farmers  Training,  Demonstrations, Exposure  Visits,  Kisan  Mela,  Mobilization  of  Farmers  Groups  and organizing Farm Schools etc.
- iii. Development of Kisan Suvidha mobile application to facilitate dissemination  of  information  to  farmers  on  the  critical  parameters  viz., Weather; Market Prices; Plant Protection; input Dealers (Seed, Pesticide,  Fertilizer)  Farm  Machinery;  Soil  Health Card;  Cold Storages &Godowns,  Veterinary  Centres  and  Diagnostic  Labs.  With  market information, farmers are better informed about markets to sell produce, prevailing  market  prices  and  quantity  demanded  in  the  market.  Thus, they can make informed decisions to sell produce at the right price and right time.
- iv. The Indian  Council  of  Agriculture  Research  (ICAR)  has  also  compiled more  than  100  mobile  apps  developed  by  ICAR,  State  Agricultural Universities  and  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  and  uploaded  on  its  website. These  mobile  apps  developed  in  the  areas  of  crops,  horticulture, veterinary, dairy, poultry, fisheries, natural resources management and integrated subjects, offer valuable information to the farmers, including package  of  practices,  market  prices  of  various  commodities,  weather related information, advisory services, etc.
- v. Development of m-Kisan Portal (www.mkisan.gov.in) for sending advisories  on  various  crop  related  matter  to  the  registered  farmers through SMSs.
- vi. Launching of e-National Agriculture Market initiative to provide farmers an electronic online trading platform.
- vii. Implementation of  Per  Drop  More  Crop  component  of  Pradhan  Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana which mainly focuses on water use efficiently at  farm  level  through  precision/micro  irrigation  technologies  viz.,  Drip and Sprinkler irrigation. Micro irrigation technology not only help in water saving but also in reducing fertilizer usage, labour expenses, and other inputs costs besides sustaining soil health.
- viii. Implementation of  Agricultural  Marketing  Infrastructure,  sub-scheme  of Integrated Scheme of Agricultural Marketing, in order to improve/create scientific  storage  capacity  for  storing  farm  produce,  processed  farm produce and to reduce post-harvest storage loss.
- ix. Introduction of Soil Health Card Scheme to assist State Governments in providing Soil Health Cards to all farmers across the country once in a cycle of 2 years Soil Health Card provides information to the farmers on nutrient status of their soil along with recommendations on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving crop productivity and soil fertility.
- x. Providing  subsidies  under  National  Food  Security  Mission  (Oil  Seeds and Oil Palm) to farmers on seed components, transfer of technologies, production  inputs  and  water  carrying  devices.  Financial  assistance  is also being provided under this scheme for block demonstration, frontline demonstration,  farmers  training  to  educate  farmers  to  adopt  modern techniques of farming to yield good crop economically.
- xi. Use  of  space technology for various  programmes/areas  such  as Forecasting  Agricultural  Output  using  Space,  Agro-meteorology  and Land-based Observations project, Coordinated programme on Horticulture Assessment and Management using geo-informatics project, National Agricultural Drought Assessment and Monitoring System,  Rice-fallow  Area  Mapping  and  Intensification,  geo  tagging  of infrastructure  and assets created under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas  Yojana, and Crop Insurance.
- xii. Using machine learning process alongwith different computer algorithm for crop classification and area estimation.
- xiii. The  Institutes  and  the  centres  of  All  India  Coordinated  Research Projects  are  disseminating  the  new  technologies  to  farmers  through demonstration  and  awareness  programme.  During  last  three  years, about  700  awareness  programme  were  organized  benefiting  40000 farmers.
- xiv. There were 33 Entrepreneur Development Programmes  (benefiting 290 agripreneurs) on different aspects of post-harvest technology and value addition.  In  addition,  the  institute  participated  in  28  exhibition/melas across the country to showcase the institute technologies through which around 13,450 farmers were benefited..
- xv. The Government has also set up Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Agricultural Technology Management Agencies at district level for dissemination of technologies among farm community. In addition, farmers are provided information through Focused Publicity Campaigns, Kisan Call Centres, Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres of entrepreneurs, Agri Fairs and exhibitions, Kisan SMS Portal, etc.

(b)  &  (c):  Government  is  encouraging  organic  farming  under  the  Schemes  viz Parampragat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)  and Mission Organic Value Chain Development  for  North  Eastern  Region  (MOVCDNER)  since  2015-16.  Both  the schemes provide end to end support to organic farmers from organic  production to certification and marketing including post harvest management support like processing, packaging, storage etc.

PKVY is implemented in all the States across the country to promote organic farming  in  cluster  mode,  in  which,  farmers  are  provided  financial  assistance  of  Rs 50000/ha for 3 years in which, RS 31000/ ha / 3 years is provided directly to farmers through DBT for organic inputs such as seeds, bio fertilisers, bio-pesticides, organic manure, compost/vermi-compost, botanical extracts etc. MOVCDNER is implemented in all the North Eastern States for promotion of certified organic production, in which, organic farmers are supported to develop their value chain from organic production to processing and marketing etc. through FPO formation. Under the scheme a sum of Rs.  46,575/ha  for  3years  are  provided  for  creation  of  FPO,  support  to  farmers  for organic  inputs,  quality  seeds/  planting  material  and  training,  hand  holding  and certification. Besides, financial assistance are also provided as subsidy to FPOs and Private entrepreneurs.

Government is also promoting Natural farming through Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Padhati (BPKP) as a sub scheme of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) since 2020-21  by  supporting      traditional  indigenous  practices.  The  scheme  mainly emphasizes  on  exclusion  of  all  synthetic  chemical  inputs  and  promotes  on-farm biomass  recycling  with  major  stress  on  biomass  mulching,  use  of  cow  dung-urine formulations  and plant-based preparations.  Under  BPKP, financial  assistance  of  Rs 12200/ha  for  3 years  is provided  for cluster formation, capacity building  and continuous handholding by trained personnel, certification and residue analysis.

(d) & (e): The Centre at Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur carries out coordinated Research Project in the country on Post Harvest Engineering  and  Technology.  It  also  provides  training  to  farmers  in  the  area  of processing  and  value-addition  of  agricultural  produce.  During  last  three  years,  the center has conducted 42 outreach programmes on different aspects of post-harvest technology and value addition.

(f): The details of Plan/Scheme to support the farming Community are available on the Department's website - https://agricoop.nic.in.

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