Lok Sabha Question No. 3637 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-10
Subject: Problems Faced by Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Kaushalendra Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3637

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10/08/2021

## PROBLEMS FACED BY FARMERS

3637.    SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR :

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

- (a) whether it is not true that our country is famous for its agriculture throughout the world;
- (b) whether it is also not true that our farmers are facing a lot of problems like lack of basic amenities of irrigation systems, short and long term loan facilities,  availability of high quality seeds and after that sale of their produce at MSP, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  it is not true that widespread  exploitation of farmers at the hands  of moneylenders is a common issue that immediately needs to be looked into;

(d) whether it is a fact that farmers are committing suicide; and

(e) if so, whether the Government has any plan to revive the agriculture sector in the country

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c):  Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy. 54.6% of the total workforce is engaged in agriculture and allied sector (Census 2011) and it accounts for 18.4%(at current prices) of the country's Gross Value Added (GVA) for the year 2019-20.

The Government through its various schemes and policies is providing assistance to the  farming  community  such  as  (1)  irrigation  facilities  through  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi Sinchayee Yojana. (2) Loan facilities are provided through the Interest Subvention Scheme. (3) Under Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP) production and multiplication of  quality  seeds  of  all  crops  are  promoted  so that  the  required  quantities  of seeds can  be made available in time to farmers. (4) Government fixes Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) of 22  mandated  agricultural  crops  on  the  basis  of  recommendation  of  commission  for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP) after considering important factors like cost of production, overall demand supply conditions, domestic and International prices etc.

For institutional credit  to farmers, the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme is being operated. In addition, PM KIsan SAmman Nidhi Yojana (PM-KISAN) is an income support scheme for farmers.

- (d): The  National  Crime  Records  Bureau  (NCRB)  under  the  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs compiles and disseminates information on suicides in its publication titled 'Accidental Deaths and  Suicides  in  India'  (ADSI).  These  Reports  on  suicides  upto  2019  are  available  on  its website.
- (e): Agriculture is a State subject. However, Government of India supplements the efforts of  States  through  appropriate  policy  measures  and  budgetary  support.  A  list  of  various initiatives taken by the Government to revive the agriculture sector are at Annexure-I.

## List of various interventions and schemes launched for the benefit of farmers.

(i) With a view to provide income support to all farmers' families across the country, to enable them to take care of expenses related to agriculture and allied activities as well as domestic needs, the Central Government started a new Central Sector Scheme, namely, the Pradhan Mantri  Kisan  Samman  Nidhi (PM-KISAN).  The  Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PMKISAN) Scheme is a single Scheme aimed at providing income  support  to all  landholding farmers' families across the country, subject to certain exclusions relating to higher income strata.  The  Scheme  provides  a  payment  of  Rs.6000/-  per  year,  in  three  4-monthly installments of Rs.2000/-, to the farmers' families.

- (ii)  With  a  view  to  provide  better  insurance  coverage  to  crops  for  risk  mitigation,  a  crop insurance scheme namely Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) was launched from Kharif 2016 season. This scheme provides insurance cover for all stages of the crop cycle including post-harvest risks in specified instances, with low premium contribution by farmers.
- (iii) Implementation of flagship scheme of distribution of Soil Health Cards to farmers so that the use of fertilizers can be rationalized.
- (iv)  'Per drop more crop' initiative under which drip/sprinkler irrigation is being encouraged for optimal utilization of water, reducing cost of inputs and increasing productivity.

(v) 'Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)' for promoting organic farming.

- (vi) Launch of e-NAM initiative to provide farmers an electronic transparent and competitive online trading platform.
- (vii) Under 'Har Medh Par Ped', agro forestry is being promoted for additional income.  With the amendment of Indian Forest Act, 1927, Bamboo has been removed from the definition of trees.  A  restructured  National  Bamboo  Mission  has  been  launched  in  the  year  2018  to promote bamboo plantation on non forest government as well as private land and emphasis on value addition, product development and markets.

(viii) Giving a major boost to the pro-farmer initiatives, the Government has approved a new Umbrella Scheme 'Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PMAASHA)'.  The Scheme  is  aimed  at  ensuring  remunerative  prices  to  the  farmers  for  their  produce  as announced in the Union Budget for 2018. This is an unprecedented step taken by Govt. of India to protect the farmers' income which is expected to go a long way towards the welfare of farmers.

(ix)  Bee  keeping  has  been  promoted  under  Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of Horticulture (MIDH) to increase the productivity of crops through pollination and increase the honey production as an additional source of income of farmers.

(x) Under the AATMA NIRBHAR BHARAT campaign aims to provide 2.5 crore new KCCs to farmers.

(xi) The Interest Subvention Scheme (ISS) was launched to provide concessional short term Agri-loans  to  the  farmers  practising  Crop  husbandry  and  other  allied  activities  like  Animal husbandry, Dairying and fisheries. The benefits of ISS have also been extended to farmers in allied  activities  like  Animal  Husbandry  and  Fisheries  to  existing  KCC  holders  within  the overall  limit  of  Rs.3.00  lakh  and  issue  of  new  KCC  for  Animal  Husbandry  and  Fisheries farmers with provision of benefit of IS &PRI for loan amount upto Rs.2.00 lakh per annum.

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