Lok Sabha Question No. 1297 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-27
Subject: New Technologies in Agriculture Sector
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Bharatiben Dhirubhai Shyal

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF AGRICUTLRURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री

(

SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR )

(a) & (b): Yes, Sir.  National Agricultural Research System coordinated at the apex level by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)/ Department of Agricultural Research and  Education  (DARE),  comprises  of  98  Agricultural  Research  Institutes,  5  Deemed Universities and 3 Central Agricultural Universities besides 63 State Agricultural Universities, 4  Universities  with  Agriculture  Faculty  and  82  All  India  Coordinated  Research  Projects (AICRPs)/Network projects mandated for developing, testing and refining new technologies in  agriculture  sector.  To  provide  information  about  these  technologies  to  the  farmers, Government has established a network of 725 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) at district level and coordinated by 11 Agricultural Technology Application and Research Institute (ATARIs) established at Zonal level in the Country. These KVKs are mandated to provide information about new technologies in agriculture sector to the farmers. The major activities undertaken by KVKs include on-farm testing of location specificity of technologies under various farming systems; frontline demonstration to establish the production potential of improved agricultural technologies on the farmers' field; capacity development of farmers for knowledge and skill up gradation; providing farm advisories on varied subjects of interest to farmers using ICT and  other  tools;  production  and  distribution  of  quality  seeds,  planting  materials  and  other technology  inputs  to  farmers.  Besides,  Government  is  also  implementing  a  centrally sponsored  scheme  namely  Agricultural  Technology  Management  Agency  (ATMA)  which aims  at  making  available  the  latest  agricultural  technologies  in  different  thematic  areas  to

O.I.H.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1297

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27 TH  JULY, 2021

## NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN AGRICULTURE SECTOR

1297.  DR. BHARATIBEN DHIRUBHAI SHIYAL: SHRI SHANKAR LALWANI:

## Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government  has  formulated any scheme  to provide complete information about the new technologies developed in the field of agriculture sector to the farmers;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has formulated any scheme to promote organic farming; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

increase agricultural production through extension activities viz. Farmers Training, Demonstrations, Exposure Visits, Kisan Mela, Mobilization of Farmers Groups and Setting up of  Farm  Schools.  During  the  last  three  years  and  current  year  (till  date),  a  total  of  41629 exhibitions/  farmers'  fairs  have  been  organized  with  participation  of  1.28  crore  farmers. Similarly,  a  total  of  1,78,811  training  programmes  with  participation  of  1.01  crore  farmers have  been  organized  during  the  last  three  years  and  during  the  current  year  till  date  by KVKs, ICAR Institutes and ATMA. Government is extending regular advisories to more than 5.00 crore farmers through MKisan portal.

(c) & (d): Government is promoting and supporting organic farming and zero budget natural farming under various schemes, detailed below:-

- DARE/ICAR  through  its Plan Scheme  'Network  Project on Organic Farming (NPOF)' is undertaking research in 20 centres covering 16 states to develop location specific  organic  farming  package  of  practices  for  crops  and  cropping  systems. Organic  farming  package  of  practices  for  51  crops/cropping  systems  have  been developed  to  provide  technical  backstopping  to  the  line  departments'  schemes implemented in the country.
- Paramparagat  Krishi Vikas  Yojana (PKVY), a sub-component  of Soil Health Management  (SHM)  scheme  under  National  Mission  for  Sustainable  Agriculture (NMSA),  promotes  cluster  based  organic  farming  with  Participatory  Guarantee System (PGS) certification. Cluster formation, training, certification and marketing are supported  under  the  scheme.  Assistance  of  Rs.  50,000  per  ha  for  3  years  is provided, out of which 62% i.e., Rs. 31,000 is given as incentive to a farmer towards use of organic inputs.
- The Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER), promotes 3 rd  party certified organic farming of niche crops of  north east  region  through  Farmer  Producer  Organisations  (FPOs)  with  focus  on  exports. Farmers are given assistance of Rs 25000/ha for 3 years for organic inputs including organic  manure  and  bio-fertilisers  etc.  Support  for  formation  of  FPOs,  capacity building,  post-harvest  infrastructure  up  to  Rs  2  crores  are  also  provided  under  the scheme.
- 100% assistance is provided to State Governments/ Government agencies through Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS) under Soil Health Management Scheme for  setting  up  of  mechanized  fruit/  vegetable  market  place,  waste/  agro-waste compost  production  unit to  the  extent  of  Rs.190.00  Lakh  /unit  (capacity  of  3000 t/annum of finished compost). Similarly, for individuals/ private agencies, assistance up to 33% of cost limit to Rs 63 lakh/unit as capital investment is provided for the purpose.
- Under  the  Agriculture  Infrastructure  Fund  (AIF)  of Aatmanirbhar Bharat,  financing facility  is  provided  to  State  agencies,  Primary  Agricultural  Credit  Societies,  Farmer Producer Organisations, entrepreneurs etc. for setting up of organic input production units, community farming assets and post-harvest infrastructure for value addition to organic produce.
- The farmers are encouraged to use organic inputs by providing financial assistance through  number  of  other  schemes.  For  example,  under  the  National  Mission  on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP) and National Food Security Mission (NFSM), the financial assistance @ 50% subsidy to the tune of Rs. 300/- per ha is provided for use of organic inputs.

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