Lok Sabha Question No. 304 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-11-30
Subject: Schemes for Promotion of Agriculture
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Ramcharan Bohra

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 304

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2021

## SCHEMES FOR PROMOTION OF AGRICULTURE

304.       SHRI RAMCHARAN BOHRA:

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

- (a)  whether  despite  various  schemes  under  implementation  for  the  promotion  of agriculture in the country, 40 percent of farmers are still living below poverty line;
- (b) if so, whether the Government has undertaken a review of performance of each of these schemes during the last three years;
- (c) if so, the outcome of such a review;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to bring improvements in such schemes; 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): There is no data which shows that 40 percent of farmers are living below poverty line.
- (b) to (e): Yes  Sir,  Government  undertakes  periodical  review  of  performance  of various  schemes.  Due  to  Government's  interventions  from  time  to  time,  the  following achievements  were  recorded  and  new  schemes  were  initiated  for  the  benefit  of farmers:-

O.I.H.

- (i) Food grain production has  increased from 265.05 million  tonnes in  2013-14 to record 305.43 million tonnes in 2020-21 (Third advance estimate) which is the highest ever food grain production.
- (ii)  Government  has  increased  the  MSP  for  all  mandated  Kharif,  Rabi  and  other commercial crops with a return of at least 50 per cent over all India weighted average cost of production from 2018-19.
- (iii) Launch of PM-KISAN in 2019 -an income support scheme to farmers providing Rs. 6000 per year in 3 equal installments.
- (iv)  PMFBY  was  launched  in  2016  addressing  problems  of  high  premium  rates  for farmers and reduction in sum insured due to capping. In past 5 Years of implementation 29.22  crore  farmer  applicants  enrolled  and  over  8.83  crore  (Provisional)  farmer applicants have received claims of over Rs. 101875 crore.

(v) Institutional credit increased from Rs.7.3 lakh crore in 2013-14 to Rs. 16.5 lakh crore in 2021-22.

(vi) Soil health cards have been issued free of cost to nearly 11 crore farmers under a nationwide program.

- (vii)  Paramparagat  Krishi  VikasYojana  (PKVY)  was  initiated  in  2015-16  to  promote organic  farming  in  the  country.  Two-year  achievement  under  PKVY  scheme-19043 clusters have been formed and an area of 3.81 lakh ha has been covered benefitting 9.52 lakh farmers.

(viii) Neem Coated Urea has been introduced since 2015-16 to ensure long availability of  nutrients  in  the  soil  by  slow  release  of  nitrogen.  It  has  also  helped  in  curtailing diversion of urea for non- agricultural activities.

- (ix) Within a year of the launch of AIF, the scheme mobilized Rs.7700 Crore agriculture infrastructure in the country for more than 7300 projects.
- (x)  Scheme  for  Formation  and  Promotion  of  10,000  FPOs  launched  with  a  total budgetary provision of Rs. 6865 Crore in February 2020.
- (xi) A National Bee and Honey Mission (NBHM) has been launched in 2020 as part of the AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. Rs.500 crore for the period 2020-2021 to 2022-2023 has been allocated for the sector.

(xii) Per Drop More Crop component of Pradhanmantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY\_PDMC) aims to increase water use efficiency at the farm level through Micro Irrigation technologies, i.e., drip and sprinkler irrigation systems.

(xiii)  A Micro  Irrigation  Fund  of  Rs 5000 crore has  been  placed  with  NABARD.   In  the Budget  for  2021-22  the  corpus  of  the  fund  has  been  increased  to  Rs.1000  crores. Projects worth Rs 3970.17 crore covering 12.83 lakh hectares have been approved. (xiv) Agricultural mechanization is extremely vital to modernize agriculture and reduce drudgery  of  farming  operations.  During  the  period  from  2014-15  to  2021-22  (as  on 31.10.2021)  an  amount  of  Rs. 4878.31 crore  have  been  allocated  for  agricultural mechanization. NAM Platform.  As  per  Budget  2021-22  announcement,  another  1000  mandis  will  be

(xv)  In  18 states  and 03 UTs,  1000 markets have  already been  integrated  with  the  Eintegrated with e-NAM.

(xvi) 646 start-ups in the agriculture and allied sectors have been selected (till 31 March 2021) for funding of a sum of Rs. 69.92 crore in instalments and Rs. 33.94 crore have been released  to respective KPs and RABIs for funding these start-ups.

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