Lok Sabha Question No. 2727 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-14
Subject: Categorization of Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: R.K. Singh Patel

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2727

TO BE ANSWERED ON  14 TH  DECEMBER, 2021

## CATEGORIZATION OF FARMERS

2727.  SHRI R.K. SINGH PATEL:

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

- (a) whether the Government has categorised the farmers as small, marginal and those living in Below Poverty Line as BPL ones and Other Backward Class (OBC) farmers;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the average size of the agriculture landholding is small and marginal in the country and this is also not beneficial for the farmers and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to increase its productivity;
- (d) the details of the steps taken/being taken to provide assistance to small and marginal farmers; and
- (e) the measures being taken by the Government to make small landholdings more economically viable?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

- In  Agriculture  Census,  the  operational  holdings  are  categorized  in  three  social groups viz., Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Others and in five size classes as given

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR) (a) & (b): below:

|   S. No. | Category    | Size-Class              |
|----------|-------------|-------------------------|
|        1 | Marginal    | Below 1.00 hectare      |
|        2 | Small       | 1.00 - 2.00 hectare     |
|        3 | Semi-Medium | 2.00 - 4.00 hectare     |
|        4 | Medium      | 4.00 - 10.00 hectare    |
|        5 | Large       | 10.00 hectare and above |

(c): As per Agriculture Census 2015-16, average size of the land holdings in the country was 1.08  hectares.  To  improve  productivity  of  small  and  marginal  holdings,  the  Government  is promoting adoption of modern technologies and practices like multiple cropping, intercropping and integrated farming systems. Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) models developed for the States have been included in the package of practices of respective state Governments. These are popularized  among  farmers,  including  small  and  marginal  farmers,  through  farmer participatory refinement and demonstration of integrated farming systems. The Indian Council of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  is  also  conducting  research  programme  to  develop  location specific  varieties  and  technologies  for  enhancing  the  production  and  productivity  of  farm holdings.

(d) & (e): To enhance the remuneration of small and marginal farmers and to make their holdings  more  economically  viable,  Government  is  implementing  a  number  of  Schemes  like Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan  Samman  Nidhi  (PM-KISAN),  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojana (PMKSY),  Soil  Health  Card  (SHC)  Scheme,  National  Agriculture  Market  Scheme  (e-NAM), Pradhan  Mantri  Fasal  Bima  Yojana  (PMFBY),  Pradhan  Matri  Kisan  Maan-Dhan  Yojana scheme,  National  Food  Security  Mission  (NFSM),  Kisan  Credit  Card  (KCC),  Pradhan  Mantri Annadata  Aay  Sanrakshan  Abhiyan  (PM-AASHA),  Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of Horticulture(MIDH), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Rainfed Area Development (RAD) Programme under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), Scheme for promotion of  10,000  Farmer  Producer  Organizations  (FPOs),  Implementation  of  National  Bee  Keeping Honey Mission (NBHM), Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) etc.

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