Lok Sabha Question No. 3127 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-22
Subject: Crop Loss due to Climate Change and Wild Animals
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Suresh Kodikunnil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3127

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22nd MARCH, 2022

## CROP LOSS DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND WILD ANIMALS

## 3127.     SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH

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

- (a) whether the  Government is aware of reports suggesting that farmers are experiencing huge  losses  in  their  produce  and  income  due  to  crop  failures  caused  by  climate  change induced consequences and destruction of crops by wild animals in Kerala.
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon;

(c) if not, the reasons therefor;

(d)  whether  the  Government has taken any steps towards mitigating  drought-related crop failure in southern India especially in Kerala; and

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष और कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a)    to  (c):    The  primary  responsibility  of  management of  crop failures  rests  with  the  State Government.  As per report from the State Government of Kerala, there has been crop loss on account of natural calamities.

For undertaking relief measures, funds are available with the State Government in the form  of  State  Disaster  Response  Fund  (SDRF).  Additional  financial  assistance,  over  and above  SDRF,  is  considered  from  National  Disaster  Response  Fund  (NDRF)  for  natural calamities of severe nature and is approved on the basis of Memorandum received from the State Government, in accordance with established procedures.

The details of funds allocated and released to Kerala during the last two years and the current year under SDRF and NDRF are as follows:

(Rs. in crore)

| Year    | Allocation under SDRF   | Allocation under SDRF   | Release of Central Share under SDRF   | Released from NDRF   |
|---------|-------------------------|-------------------------|---------------------------------------|----------------------|
| Year    | Central Share           | State Share             | Release of Central Share under SDRF   | Released from NDRF   |
| 2019-20 | 168.75                  | 56.25                   | 136.65                                | 0.00                 |
| 2020-21 | 314.00                  | 105.00                  | 314.00                                | 0.00                 |
| 2021-22 | 251.20                  | 84.00                   | 251.20                                | 0.00                 |

(d): The  Central  Government  implements  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  (CSS)/  Central Sector (CS) Schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), the Rainfed Area  Development  Programme  (RAD)  etc.  which  contribute  towards  drought  proofing. Central  and  State  Governments  have  committed  considerable  resources  in  strengthening resilience to droughts through the creation of irrigation potential, promotion of conservation and efficient harvesting of water, adoption of watershed management approach, development of abiotic stress tolerant varieties of crops, improved agronomic practices etc.

Besides,  Ministry  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare  through  ICAR  -  Central  Research Institute  for  Dryland  Agriculture  (CRIDA)  has  formulated  District  Agricultural  Contingency Plans  for  650  districts  in  the  country  including  all  14  districts  of  Kerala  for  implementing location  specific  interventions  to  sustain  agriculture  production  in  the  eventuality  of  any extreme climatic events.

Government of India has constituted the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF) under the Disaster  Management  Act,  2005  for  the  purpose  of  mitigation  projects  in  respect  of disasters  including  drought  covered  under  the  State  Disaster  Response  Fund/National Disaster  Response  Fund  and  the  State  specific  local  disasters  notified  by  the  State Governments.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, comprehensive risk insurance against crop damage from pre  sowing  to  post  harvest  for  food  crops,  oilseeds  and  annual  commercial crops notified by the concerned State Governments can be taken.  States may consider add on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals wherever the risk is perceived to be substantial and is identifiable.

(e):    As reported by the State Government of Kerala, the details of funds allocated for crop loss and total area affected are as follows:

| S. No   | Name of scheme                                                                                                                                                             | Amount allocated (Rs. in lakhs)   | Amount allocated (Rs. in lakhs)   | Amount allocated (Rs. in lakhs)   |
|---------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
|         |                                                                                                                                                                            | 2019-20                           | 2020-21                           | 2021-22                           |
| 1.      | State Crop Insurance Scheme                                                                                                                                                | 5764.62602                        | 7547.28689                        | 2825.00                           |
| 2.      | Contingencies to meet Natural Calamities pest and disease endemic. (a) Additional state Contribution (b) State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) (Central Share + State Share) | 572.907 942.15023                 | 9141.2103 2785.34280              | 6493.86 1692.83007                |
| 3.      | Total area affected (as per FIR reports)                                                                                                                                   | 100568.33 Ha                      | 205510.68 Ha                      | 158596.04 Ha                      |

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