Lok Sabha Question No. 40 (STARRED), answered on 2021-07-20
Subject: Role of Agricultural Research
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar, Gautham Sigamani Pon

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 40

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 TH  JULY, 2021

## ROLE OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

- *40. SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR: SHRI GAUTHAM SIGAMANI PON:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE d`f'k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the role of agricultural research in the development of the agricultural sector in the country;
- (b) whether the Government provides information to farmers regarding new scientific research taking place in the agricultural sector;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the achievement made so far;
- (d) whether  the  Government  encourages  farmers  to  use  scientific  equipment  for agricultural purposes;
- (e) if so, the details of the steps taken in this direction;
- (f) whether  the  Government  also  provides  loans  to  farmers  at  cheaper  rates  for procuring such equipment besides subsidy; and
- (g) if  so,  the  number  of  farmers  benefited  by  the  subsidy/loan  in  various  States including Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra during the last three years and the current year?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

d`f'k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h

(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) to (g) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) to (g) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 40 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 TH  JULY, 2021 REGARDING 'ROLE OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH'

(a) The  agricultural  Research  Plays  a  very  important  role  in  the  development  of Agriculture  Sector.  In  this  regard,  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  has adopted  a  multipronged  strategy  to  address  the  needs  of  the  agriculture  sector  for  its development.  The  new  high  yielding  and  biotic/abiotic  stress  tolerant  varieties  and technologies  of  crops,  breeds/  strains  of  livestock  &  poultry  developed  by  National Agricultural  Research  System  (NARS)  under  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research (ICAR) have played pivotal role in increasing the food and nutritional security of country. ICAR/NARS has developed more than 5500 varieties  of different  field  and  horticultural crops since 1969. During last 7 years (2014 to Jan 2021) alone, 1575 varieties of 70 field crops were developed which include 770 of cereals, 235 of oilseeds, 236 of pulses, 170 of fibre crops, 104 of forage crops, 52 of sugarcane and 8 of other crops. In addition, 288 varieties of horticultural crops were also released and notified during this period. Against the indented quantity of 6.59 lakh quintals of breeder's seed of different varieties received during  the  last  7  years,  ICAR/NARS  produced  and  supplied  8.20  lakh  quintals.  In livestock,  12  improved  poultry  varieties  suitable  for  backyard  poultry  rearing,  9  high producing varieties of pigs and an improved sheep variety were developed. Twelve cloned buffaloes were also produced during the last 7 years to multiply superior germplasm. To augment  the  fish  production,  fish  breeding  and  seed  production  technologies  were developed  for  25  species  of  food  fishes  and  48  species  of  ornamental  fishes  were identified  during  2014-21.  For  better  health  management  a  total  of  47  and  25  new vaccines/diagnostic kits were also developed in case of livestock & fish respectively.

Owing  to  the  varieties  and  technologies  developed  and  promoted  by  ICAR/NARS and the enabling policies of the Government, the country has seen 6 folds increase in the annual production of total food grains since 1950-51. The corresponding increase in the production  of  pulses,  oilseeds,  milk  &  fish  was  3.04,  7.10,  11.04  and  17.90  folds respectively. The increase in productivity (kg/ha) of all food grains, rice, wheat, sugarcane, pulses  and  oilseeds  during  the  period  1950-51  to  2018-19  has  been  4.04,  3.98,  5.30, 2.34, 2.83 and 2.63 folds respectively.  The percent increase in productivity (kg/ha) of all food grains, rice, wheat, sugarcane, pulses, oilseeds, milk and fish production during the period 2013-14 up to 2018-19 is, 7.78, 9.10, 10.32, 12.12, 9.90, 5.20, 7.70 respectively. The milk and fish production during the period 2013-14 up to 2019-20 has seen increase of 30.59 and 32.53 percent respectively.

In value terms, the total contribution of the agriculture & allied sector has increased from  about  Rs.1609198 crores during 2013-14 to Rs. 2040079 crores during 2020-21 reflecting  an  increase  of  26.8  percent.  The  total  agricultural  exports  have  also  shown continuous rise and the total value of the export of agricultural and allied commodities during  the  period  2013-14  and  2020-21  was  Rs.262778.52  crores  and  Rs.310338.47 crores respectively showing an increase of 18.1 percent.

(b) & (c): The  Government  has  set  up  725  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs)  in  the Country to provide information to the farmers regarding new technologies in agriculture sector. The activities of KVKs include On-farm testing to identify the location specificity of technology  under  various  farming  systems;  Frontline  demonstration  to  establish  the production potential of improved agricultural technologies on the farmers' fields; Capacity development of farmers for knowledge and skill up gradation; providing farm advisories using  ICT  and  other  media  means  on  varied  subjects  of  interest  to  farmers;  and production of quality seeds, planting materials and other technology inputs for availability to the farmers. To develop awareness about improved agricultural technology among the farmers, a wide range of extension activities is undertaken by the KVKs. The details of such activities undertaken during 2007-14 and 2014-21 are given as Annexure-I .

(d) & (e): During last 7 years, the  research  Institutes  under  DARE/ICAR  have developed 230 farm machinery/ implements and 168 processes/ protocols for the valueadded  products  from  agricultural  produce  with  the  aim  of  increasing  mechanisation, reducing  drudgery,  improving  efficiency  of  operation,  reducing  post-harvest  losses  and increasing  the  income  of  farmers.    The  farmers  have  been  encouraged  to  use  these equipments through Government schemes. Government of India has introduced a special dedicated  scheme  'Sub  Mission  on  Agricultural  Mechanization  (SMAM)'  in  2014-15.  As part  of  this  scheme,  a  total  of  15390  custom  hiring  centres  362  high  tech  hubs,  14235 farm machinery banks have been established during the last 7 years and the current year. The total number of farm machinery distributed among farmers during this period under subsidy is 13,21,968. Funds  to  the tune of Rs.930.1  crores,  Rs.1044.57crores, Rs.1050.34 crores and Rs.1086.66 crores  have been released under SWAN in 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-2021 and 2021-22 (up to June 2021) respectively.

To address air pollution and to subsidize machinery required for in-situ management  of  crop  residue,  a  Central  Sector  Scheme  (100%  funded  by  the  Central Government) on 'Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue (CRM)' has been implemented from 2018-19 in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi.  Under this scheme, the number of machines delivered to  the  individual  farmers  and  custom  hiring  centres  during  the  last  3  years  is  158135. Under  this  scheme  the  total  number  of  custom  hiring  centres  established  by  the Government  is  30961.    Funds  to  the  tune  of  Rs.584.33  Crores,  Rs.594.23  Crores, Rs.570.70  Crores  and  Rs.700.00  Crores  have  been  released  under  CRM  in  2018-19, 2019-20,  2020-2021  and  2021-22  (up  to  June  2021)  respectively.  Since  2018-19,  the Government  has  also  been  providing  support  to  60  KVKs  of  Punjab,  Haryana,  Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi through a Central Sector Scheme on 'Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization' to encourage farmers through training and demonstration on use of new farm machineries and implements for In-Situ Crop Residue Management.

(f) & (g): The Interest Subvention Scheme (ISS), a  Central  Sector  Scheme,  100% funded  by  Government  of  India ,  was  launched  in  the  year  2006-07  with  a  view  to provide  concessional  short  term  Agri-loans  to  the  farmers.  Under  this  Scheme  for extending short term loans to the farmers, there is a provision to allow upto 15 percent of the loan towards the maintenance of the farm equipment. 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 Interest Subvention & Prompt Repayment Incentive (IS&PRI) for loan amount up to Rs.2.00 lakh  per annum. The implementing agencies for settling the claims under Interest Subvention Scheme are Reserve  Bank  of  India  (RBI)/National  Bank  for  Agriculture  and  Rural  development (NABARD) to which funds are released for further disbursement to banks/RRBs/Cooperatives. There is no state-wise allocation/release under the ISS.  Year wise funds released under ISS are Rs.11495.67 crores, Rs.16218.75 crores, Rs.17789.72 crores and Rs.3000.00 crores during 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-2021 and 2021-22 (as on date)  respectively.

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## Details of the technology transfer related activities undertaken by the KVKs during 2007-14 and 2014-21.

|   S.No. | Activities                                                               | 2007-14   |   2014-21 |
|---------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|
|       1 | No. of On Farm Trials & On Field Technology Demonstrations (No. in lakh) | 9. 83     |     14.29 |
|       2 | No. of Farmers and extension workers trained (in lakh)                   | 104.83    |    109.55 |
|       3 | Participants in extension activities (in lakh)                           | 796.31    |   1265.58 |
|       4 | Seed produced (in lakh quintal)                                          | 13.22     |     15.86 |
|       5 | Planting material produced & distributed (in lakh)                       | 1077.64   |   2862.44 |
|       6 | Livestock strains and fingerlings produced and provided (in lakh)        | 873.86    |   1631.01 |
|       7 | Soil samples tested (in lakh)                                            | 15.52     |     39.2  |
|       8 | Mobile agro- advisory provided to farmers (Messages in lakh )            | 41.49     |   9142.94 |

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